Tree Tragedy Avoided in Virginia

The story by Mark Taylor in the 29 April 2007 Roanoke (VA) Times headlined "Hikers escape fallen tree" could just as well have been titled 'Hikers escape falling tree.'

Section hikers Joe Boone and Rick Henn were at the Pine Swamp shelter in Virginia on the evening of 16 April. While they were setting up camp and preparing their usual cup of tea, the heavy winds convinced a neighboring tree to lay down its life. Luckily, although the top branches of the tree crashed into the picnic table in front of the shelter, there no injuries to speak of.

Other hikers to witness the close call were 4 "hikers from Delaware, along with a single through-hiker from Georgia."