'Tis the season for thunderstorms and other severe weather that result in lighting. I know there is great interest among nature photographers to capture images that include lightning bolts and/or storm clouds, but capturing such dramatic images can be very dangerous.
Here are two sources of information from NOAA that may save your life...
Preston, all good information on the links provided. Been there done that. Came close a couple times by being a distance from shelters. Although, once I drove for 2 hours to a location and stayed in the truck for an hour awaiting a thunderstorm to clear and finally had to give up.......
Just cannot see getting well done from the inside out for any Pulitzer prize winning image......
Many years ago I was camped at Baboon Lakes in the Sierra. The weather had looked somewhat threatening all morning during my hike in. I made camp, using only my rain fly, and moved all metal a safe distance away. Early in the afternoon, a powerful cell came in, blasting the Thompson Ridge with bolts about once per minute for about a half-hour. It seemed like hours, and I was quite fearful; all the while hurling curses at the thunder gods. The granite ridge is quite high, but the strikes were hitting mid-slope. When the strikes hit, the rock literally glowed for a few seconds! There was no place to run, and I count myself lucky.
A couple of weeks later, three of us were doing the traverse of Matthes Crest, in Yosemite. We came a spot on the very crest of the the granite fin where the lichen was cleaned off the rock, and feldspar crystals and quartz had been melted and fused together. We were glad we were not around when that happened! It was staggering to think of the energy released by the lightning that could melt granite!
My story is not about hiking in a severe thunderstorm but sitting in our vacation home in Maine surrounded by tall red pines. My sister and her family were visiting back in the mid nineties. We just had dinner and were sitting down in the living room to relax and play board games. Our home there is an A frame with all glass in the front. I was looking out the window when all of a sudden I saw a bright white ball heading towards us. Luckily the bolt hit a tree in front of the house and not the house. The tree splintered into many pieces which are still evident in the woods in front of our house. Take about a heart stopper and the explosive sound was so load it left are ears ringing for some time..
Has anyone read "A Bolt from the Blue: The Epic True Story of Danger, Daring, and Heroism at 13,000 Feet" by Jennifer Woodlief? Scary real life climbing mishap due to a lightening strike on the Grand Teton. One take away is know weather patterns and observe recommended turn around times.
Discussion
3 repliesHere are two sources of information from NOAA that may save your life...
NWS Lightning Safety
NWS Lightning Safety Myths and Facts
Please be safe out there, everyone!
--P
Preston, all good information on the links provided. Been there done that. Came close a couple times by being a distance from shelters. Although, once I drove for 2 hours to a location and stayed in the truck for an hour awaiting a thunderstorm to clear and finally had to give up.......
Just cannot see getting well done from the inside out for any Pulitzer prize winning image......
A couple of weeks later, three of us were doing the traverse of Matthes Crest, in Yosemite. We came a spot on the very crest of the the granite fin where the lichen was cleaned off the rock, and feldspar crystals and quartz had been melted and fused together. We were glad we were not around when that happened! It was staggering to think of the energy released by the lightning that could melt granite!
Does anyone else have stories to share?
--P
Has anyone read "A Bolt from the Blue: The Epic True Story of Danger, Daring, and Heroism at 13,000 Feet" by Jennifer Woodlief? Scary real life climbing mishap due to a lightening strike on the Grand Teton. One take away is know weather patterns and observe recommended turn around times.