12/12/2023 0 Comments Lightning storm packYour group should not huddle together.If you have a hiking stick or poles, leave them with your pack.If you have a metal frame pack, leave it 100 feet from where you are seeking shelter.Put on your raingear and remove your backpack.If you are above treeline, seek shelter in the lowest area you can reach, preferably with large boulders around so you can get some protection from driving rain behind some smaller boulders.This will help keep you dry and not attract lightning. Be careful of entering a drywash that may channel a flashflood from the rainstorm. Seek a valley or depression in the terrain. The rain won't kill you so its better to be wet and alive than dry and dead. Do NOT seek shelter under a picnic shelter, lone tree, or other object to keep you dry.If you are at the trailhead, get in your car, roll up all the windows, and don't touch anything metal.Īssuming you are on a hike away from buildings when a lightning storm catches up with you, use these lightning safety guidelines: Picnic shelters and other open structures do not offer protection from lightning. If there is an enclosed building nearby with plumbing and/or electric outlets, that makes the best shelter and you should retreat there. Minimizing your strike probability is the name of the game. Houses get hit, cars get hit, trees, animals, and people all get hit. There is no completely safe place from lightning. This gives time for the storm to pass and minimizes your chance of being struck. Stay inside shelter until at least 30 minutes after hearing the last roll of thunder. If it's less than 30 seconds and you are not at your shelter site, you need to take quick action. Lightning can strike 6 miles away from the thunderhead, and occasionally even farther. If it is less than 30 seconds, you should already be in shelter. Divide the number of seconds by 5 to approximate the distance in miles.Ĭount the seconds from the lightning flash until thunder is heard. If you see a lightning flash, count the seconds until you hear thunder. If you do hear thunder, you should be at or on your way to shelter. Depending on wind, terrain, and distance, you may not hear thunder until lightning is already dangerously close. If a cloud looks ominous or you see flashes, have your escape or safety plan ready and make sure everyone in your group understands it. Scan the horizon every 15 minutes or so and notice any clouds building. Watch the horizon for cloud formation.In mountains, storms typically form in the afternoon so plan an early morning hike with the ability to get off the mountain quickly after lunch. Understand the general weather patterns for the area and season.If nothing but blue skies are expected, relax a bit. If storms are expected, be more vigilant. Check weather reports before starting a hike.You can determine the threat of lightning: Keeping an eye and ear tuned to possible lightning is important. You have the responsibility to act appropriately when threatened by lightning - there will be no warning sirens or announcements out on the trail. If you stay alert and play it safe, you'll be just fine. That number is on a steady decline over the past few decades. There are actually very few people struck by lightning while hiking, and less than 50 people killed in the US each year by lightning. The amazing thing is that he survived all 7 strikes - he wound up killing himself by committing suicide with a gun. During his career, he was struck by lightning 7 times - that's in the Guinness Book of World Records. There was a park ranger named Roy Sullivan who died in 1983. Knowing when to enjoy the show and when to seek shelter is the difference between fun and misery. Thunderheads in the far distance with bolts of lightning striking under them are an amazing site. I love lightning! It is sooo cool to see the power of nature in such an intense instance of energy. Thunder and lightning is one such surprise that you may experience. You need to have a plan to deal with the most probable challenges and then good sense and skills to deal with anything else. Sudden storms, wild animals, rock slides, and flash floods are all examples of surprises that may pop up with little or no warning. When you're out hiking, you're at the mercy of nature for everything you didn't properly prepare for and for every little curveball thrown your way.
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