How To Survive a Thunderstorm on the Trail
video description
When you see a lightning bolt, start counting seconds, ever 5 seconds equals the approximate time it takes for the sound of the thunder to reach you over one mile (or 3 sec' per km. So if the first strike takes 10 sec' to reach you the storm is about 2 miles away, and if the next reaches you at say 8, then 6 etc, than you can assume the storm is headed your way, and how far away it is. If the time increases it is probably moving away from you, and if it stays the same either the storm is stationary, or it is paralleling your track.
I've only ever been close to two strikes in my life and it it SCARY!
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Will
I am watching this because I feared for my life earlier today. I have been chased by lightning at high altitudes, but this was even more scary. I was hiking in Elephant Butte Park, in Evergreen CO, close to where I live. I heard the thunder and thought, what are the chances that it is headed my way? So instead of heading in the direction of my car, I ventured farther away. Then before I knew it, the pouring rain and the lightning were right over me. Judging from the sound delay and the speed of sound, I estimate that some strikes were approx a tenth of a mile away. I prayed to get home safely. I will not be that foolish again, and I will be a little better prepared if it happens again anyway.
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I am watching this because I feared for my life earlier today. I have been chased by lightning at high altitudes, but this was even more scary. I was hiking in Elephant Butte Park, in Evergreen CO, close to where I live. I heard the thunder and thought, what are the chances that it is headed my way? So instead of heading in the direction of my car, I ventured farther away. Then before I knew it, the pouring rain and the lightning were right over me. Judging from the sound delay and the speed of sound, I estimate that some strikes were approx a tenth of a mile away. I prayed to get home safely. I will not be that foolish again, and I will be a little better prepared if it happens again anyway.
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roundtable25
Been caught in the middle of an electrical storm in the Rockey mtns once. Exciting. So about tents. They actually can provide protection from a lightening strike. White Squall in Ontario Canada had a tent housing some guides struck by lightening. Vaporized the nylon shell and welded the tent poles together, but left the occupants untouched. Assume the wet nylon and poles spread the charge and grounded it. The owner of the outfitter Tim still has the poles in his office. Strange but true.
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Been caught in the middle of an electrical storm in the Rockey mtns once. Exciting. So about tents. They actually can provide protection from a lightening strike. White Squall in Ontario Canada had a tent housing some guides struck by lightening. Vaporized the nylon shell and welded the tent poles together, but left the occupants untouched. Assume the wet nylon and poles spread the charge and grounded it. The owner of the outfitter Tim still has the poles in his office. Strange but true.
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Floyd
I generally like your videos, but this one? It is beyond uninformed and to the point of being down right dangerous. The lightning crouch can definitely save your life, and already DID save the life of a very close friend of mine, and several others who were with her. The problem you had? You didn't know what you were doing in a potentially life threatening situation, you didn't understand the reasons behind what you should do, and sadly - it seems like maybe you still don't.
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I generally like your videos, but this one? It is beyond uninformed and to the point of being down right dangerous. The lightning crouch can definitely save your life, and already DID save the life of a very close friend of mine, and several others who were with her. The problem you had? You didn't know what you were doing in a potentially life threatening situation, you didn't understand the reasons behind what you should do, and sadly - it seems like maybe you still don't.
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John
Hi Dixie, I thought I had watched all of your videos, but I guess I missed this one. During a lightning storm my biggest concern was carrying my hiking poles. I wondered if they would act as a lightning rod (lol. I remember sitting in a shelter wondering if the metal roof attract lightning as well or the tent poles on the old fly creek. Have you done any research on those? Capt. America
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Hi Dixie, I thought I had watched all of your videos, but I guess I missed this one. During a lightning storm my biggest concern was carrying my hiking poles. I wondered if they would act as a lightning rod (lol. I remember sitting in a shelter wondering if the metal roof attract lightning as well or the tent poles on the old fly creek. Have you done any research on those? Capt. America
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Karen
Im watching this because I was planning to summit a 12000 ft mountain. Then I checked the wheather, there is 40% chance of rain and thurnderstorms for 4 consecutive days, it looks like monsoon season is here. Im gonna have to pospone. A teen died in the same mountain struck by lightning while hiking with hia friends and a storm came out of nowhere.
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Im watching this because I was planning to summit a 12000 ft mountain. Then I checked the wheather, there is 40% chance of rain and thurnderstorms for 4 consecutive days, it looks like monsoon season is here. Im gonna have to pospone. A teen died in the same mountain struck by lightning while hiking with hia friends and a storm came out of nowhere.
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Nathan
I was about twenty miles north of Carvers Gap when I had my one experience hiking in a thunderstorm. I was under some big trees and they were all swaying so much I was afraid a tree was going to fall on me. Or lightning would strike one of them right I was going by. I just kept moving and it eventually went away.
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I was about twenty miles north of Carvers Gap when I had my one experience hiking in a thunderstorm. I was under some big trees and they were all swaying so much I was afraid a tree was going to fall on me. Or lightning would strike one of them right I was going by. I just kept moving and it eventually went away.
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Anthony
Leave your pack and any metal (cell phone) included at least 100 ft from you. Personally speaking even if I could reduce my risk by any small margin, I'd take it. I literally witnessed lightning strike about 30ft in front of my cousin. At the time we didn't know any better and were definitely being reckless.
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Leave your pack and any metal (cell phone) included at least 100 ft from you. Personally speaking even if I could reduce my risk by any small margin, I'd take it. I literally witnessed lightning strike about 30ft in front of my cousin. At the time we didn't know any better and were definitely being reckless.
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Steve
MY EXPERIENCE - most storms come in during early afternoon. Because of this we would always try to hike to be on top of any mountain in early morning and heading downward by 11am. Not always the case BUT found it to be true in most cases. And as Dixie mentions, check the weather reports.
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MY EXPERIENCE - most storms come in during early afternoon. Because of this we would always try to hike to be on top of any mountain in early morning and heading downward by 11am. Not always the case BUT found it to be true in most cases. And as Dixie mentions, check the weather reports.
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Joe
There's a woman who designed a lightning safe tent that's looking for someone to commercialize the tent. Her name is Kamila Kama Jania and they're called Bolt Tents. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it provided a safe retreat during a thunderstorm.
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There's a woman who designed a lightning safe tent that's looking for someone to commercialize the tent. Her name is Kamila Kama Jania and they're called Bolt Tents. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it provided a safe retreat during a thunderstorm.
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