It is not uncommon for a strong ocean storm to blow in from nowhere and cause great damage. These storms can range from small but powerful storms to large, severe hurricanes. Just recently, I was unfortunate enough to be caught in a potentially dangerous storm while camping on Horn Island. Several of my friends and I decided to take a trip to Horn Island the first weekend in July. We began planning this trip several weeks in advance. Since we had decided to spend the entire day there, we packed enough food and other necessities that we thought might "come in handy" if anything should happen. On the day we actually took the trip, no one thought about checking the weather forecast to see if we could expect anything more than plenty of sunshine and whitecaps. Setting out just after dawn that morning, we anticipated a fun and uneventful day on the island. We arrived at Horn Island shortly after 8 o'clock, and our day was filled with activities. We skied most of the morning and came in shortly after noon to eat lunch. After an enjoyable meal and a brief rest, we tried our luck at fishing. While fishing, we heard thunder in the background, but not paying much attention to it, we happily continued fishing for "the big one." Suddenly the storm hit, creating dangers about which we never dreamed. Blowing in from the mainland, the storm was on us before we could do anything about it. It was a terrible storm! High winds and rough waves threatened our lives as we quickly made preparations to head homeward. The trip back home was extremely frightening. With the wind pushing our boat off course, for a while we were lost. Furthermore, the rain was so bad that our visibility was only a few feet. If our seamanship had not been adequate, I am afraid to think what the outcome might have been. My next trip to Horn Island will be much more carefully planned than this one. After enduring this experience, I realize that a strong storm, which can develop out of nowhere, is nothing to take lightly. It was a life-threatening situation for my friends and me and a fearful time that I will never forget.