[pct-l] lightning

[David Ellzey]

Laura,

Get lower than the terrain around you that protrudes the highest, stay away from features that stand out as high points regardless of their overall altitude. Simply being under some average trees is not a concern but sitting directly under that big, tall tree out in the empty meadow is a really bad idea. 

Remember that the ground and sky are attempting to complete a circuit over an vast amount of insulation, it really does require a massive buildup and the electrons follow the path of least resistance. As long as you are not one next to one of those points, or are that point yourself you will be safe. Your greatest danger should be getting down to a safe area once you realize that a lightning storm is in the area.

Also, nothing you are carrying in your pack is of any consequence, use all of it as you would if there was no lightning.

BigToe

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Laura Newman
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 12:01 AM
To: Gary Schenk
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] lightning

This discussion also led me to think that lightning was a much greater  
concern.  While on the jmt in '05 there was some considerable weather  
causing a lot of lightning.  This was the year of the boy scout  
tragedy in Sandy meadow. I knew to get to get down off ridges and  
mountain tops and not to be in open fields but after that was just  
guessing what to do.

It seems that the books say to not pitch tents under trees but then  
aren't you in the open?

Are tent stakes and poles ok?  What about the metal in a backpack? How  
would set up without those?

Any specific advice welcome.

Thanks, Laura
"topper"

On Mar 24, 2010, at 9:27 PM, Gary Schenk <gwschenk at socal.rr.com> wrote:

> On Wednesday 24 March 2010 19:54:45 Eric Lee wrote:
>
>> It continually surprises me that with all of the snakes people report
>> seeing on the trail, and all of the stories of very close accidental
>> encounters, there are extremely few instances of hikers actually  
>> getting
>> bitten.
>
> Lightning is a much greater hazard than snakes, IMHO. YMMV, etc.
>
> Gary
>
>
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