While hiking on the northern Idaho-Montana border, I encountered a large area where virtually every tree is bent at the base in the downhill direction. Only the very largest and very smallest trees are straight. What could cause this?
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1$\begingroup$ Avalanche? Or just a heavy accumulation of snow bending them towards the ground one year. I could find you some hereabouts that are bent into U-shapes, or even S-curves. $\endgroup$– jamesqfJun 29, 2015 at 5:29
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6$\begingroup$ Forgot to remove the fisheye lens? $\endgroup$– canadianerJun 29, 2015 at 6:04
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4$\begingroup$ This case is much different, but you might find it relevant: Crooked Forrest. $\endgroup$– dtldarekJun 29, 2015 at 15:29
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1$\begingroup$ Prevailing winds, you see a lot on the coast. $\endgroup$– RedSonjaJun 30, 2015 at 10:20
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2$\begingroup$ Also see,the Dancing Forest en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Forest they think it might have been caterpillars. $\endgroup$– RedSonjaJun 30, 2015 at 10:22
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The phenomenon in question is probably related to geotropism.
If the hill soil is "on the move" it will cause the bend on the trees -
If the soil in a slope is moving downward, the trees on this slope will tip downward. As the tree continues to try to grow upward, the trunk will show a curve. The degree of bending could indicate the rate or amount of movement of the soil.
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12$\begingroup$ This was a surprisingly interesting question and answer. $\endgroup$ Jun 29, 2015 at 11:39
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$\begingroup$ @canadianer :) thanks, nice to help to community %) $\endgroup$– IlanJun 29, 2015 at 17:38