[pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 74, Issue 26

[Susan Alcorn]

I agree with Paint Your Wagon--the article on Lightning by NOLO is excellent. I didn't know, for example, that it didn't matter if you were on damp ground or not as far as attracting lightning (or course standing in a stream is not advisable). 

http://www.pcta.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/BackcountryLightningSafety.pdf


Susan Alcorn
 
www.backpack45.com and backpack45.blogspot.com
http://www.examiner.com/hiking-in-san-francisco/susan-alcorn



>Message: 1
>Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:20:38 -0700
>From: "Paint Your Wagon" <n801yz at hotmail.com>
>Subject: [pct-l] Rain Finally Back in the Forecast for California;
>    and... (speaking of lightning)
>
>
><>Paint<>
>
>(speaking of lightning)
>
>While hiking last year in the high sierras,
>lightning striking the passes around noon time was both spectacular and down 
>right scary.
>
>On occasion,
>I failed to position myself strategically,
>so as to summit the high passes before the routine weather systems built 
>up/moved in,
>putting me in what can accurately be described as life threatening 
>situations.
>I kid you not.
>I did get the hang of it after making it through a number of these storms.
>Wow! What a literal trial by fire.
>To the local back ranger?s credit;
>some hand written warnings were posted extoling the virtue of clearing the 
>described passes by noon.
>After a few near death experiences (or so it would seem) I quickly learned 
>to lay up under a pass overnight,
>if I couldn?t make it over the top in time to avoid said storm.
>These passes I speak of, are the eight biggies along the JMT, from Forester 
>to Donoghue.
>
>Are there any briefings regarding lightning enriched environments and hiker 
>protocol,
>being offered/planned/contemplated at the ADZPCTKO?
>
>I?ve found some online websites addressing this issue, describing what to 
>do, and amazed in the process,
>by learning about (heretofore) unknown facts and characteristics of 
>lightning.
>
>>From the PCTA-
>
>http://www.pcta.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/BackcountryLightningSafety.pdf
>
>
>
>