[pct-l] lightning

[David Ellzey]

Okay, you have me there. I didn't think about people using objects that would increase their height , that would indeed be a bad thing.

My point was that the material that the objects are made of is irrelevant considering the magnitude of the forces at work. If you are exposed to lightning, carrying an umbrella is above your head is dangerous regardless of the type shaft it uses. In the example of the golfers, it doesn't matter if they used rubber clubs or copper ones the odds for being struck are essentially the same. The real difference is when they raise a stick above their heads while on a relatively empty and flat area.

Think of it this way, we are talking about the relative conductivity for (at most) a few feet of anything you might be carrying or using. Compared with the thousands of feet of air, which is incredibly non-conductive, the material makeup of those objects is insignificant beyond practical measurement.

The big caveat is, as you pointed out, that you need to be sure that you do not use those objects to increase your height. 

BigToe

PS - Congrats on grooming your hiker-trash look early!


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Jim Bravo
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 2:13 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] lightning

Ray Jardine's classic book "Beyond Backpacking" has a good chapter on lightning dangers and how to deal with them, as well as a number of other outdoor situations. Highly recommended reading. Despite the statement of a respected forum contributor, I would certainly not "use anything in my pack as if there were no lightning", that is to say, any metallic object. As one example, Jardine warns of the danger of holding an umbrella with a metal shaft. Another example is the threat that golfers face when holding a metal club. Professional golf tournaments are immediately suspended when lightning even threatens.

As an aside, I was at the supermarket in Placerville yesterday and saw an old friend, Peter, who I had worked with for 20 years before I retired. He asked what I was up to these days and I replied that I was going to hike the PCT this year. He said "Oh, my sister hiked that trail and helped write a book about it". I asked what her name was, and Peter replied "Jenny, she's married to Ray Jardine".

Same trip to supermarket. Used men's room, looked in mirror, for first time ever saw hiker trash looking back at me. Whew, not a positive experience. I guess this is what happens when you have just finished an all-day training hike, stop shaving two months ago, have significantly lessened your shower frequency, and started eating boxed food from convenience stores to test it out.

Jim
Straywolf
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