Thunderstorms

[MikeLib]

As we get into the humid and hot part of the year, it is important that we know what to do when one of those rumblers comes blowing through. Unfortunately, it can be a scary experience for anyone who has had to go through at least one. I was on top of the small Poke-O-Moonshine when lightning passed directly overhead. The ranger on the top said the best thing to do in that case was to keep moving down the mountain. What is some other advice that may help people in this situation? I am curious because this time of year I find myself constantly analyzing the clouds...

[Bill I.]

No joke, but I saw Saturday's forecast for showers and decided to simply stay home. My original plan was to traverse Rocky Peak Ridge, but being atop an open summit with two trekking poles sounded like a poor decision.

Normally, though, I'd just adjust my itinerary and plan to be in camp by the time the rain came. The decision to sit the day out entirely reflects the fact that I've enjoyed double my share of outdoor fun this spring, and missing one day wouldn't kill me.

[DRIFTER]

Don't camp near any large,[or small for that matter], dead trees. I camped at a designated camp, which was the last one open, and it had a huge dead tree pointed at the only level spot. Needless to say a big storm blew in with high winds and I stayed awake most of that night.......

[eghaley]

With a moderate amount of precautions

one can lower the risk of encountering the dangers of a near lightning strike. When hiking, the main thing is to not be the tallest or the most ironclad object in the area. As far as camping or bivouacking, pick a spot in the woods where the ground is raised and the woods are composed of trees of similar height (and no dead ones nearby). Pitch your tent and just listen to the rain (and boom booms). Let the storm relax you to sleep.

I know it may be hard at first but nature's loud displays are bringing precipitation to where it is needed most and your presence is just a fortunate stroke of luck. Enjoy it.

[Lute Hawkins]

I think I'd be more worried about the danger of a direct lightning strike. Unfortunately, I'm usually the tallest one in my group, so I usually let the shorter folk carry any metal poles or graphite fishing rods.

[KurtVon]

I remember camping on one of islands on Follensby Clear Pond two summers ago when one of the worst storms in years came through (as one ranger had said a few days later). I have never been so scared in my life. High winds, constant lightening, and surprisingly very little rain. The storm lasted for about two hours, it just kept coming and refused to yield. At the height of the storm I counted about a dozen lightening strikes in under a minute. I felt the hair on my body stand up and all of a sudden felt the shock wave ripple through my tent and a piercing loud crack. Lightening had hit just feet from my tent. The next mourning I saw a tree split in half. I was glad to be alive still. It was an awesome storm though and I'm sure I'll never to get to experience such power like that again!

[redhawk]

I always hike with people taller and slower then myself. Offers safety in lightning and bear encounters.

[DRIFTER]

LIGHTENING STORMS, WE LAUGH AT THEM!

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[ALGonquin Bob]

On Friday, a light rain began as I emerged from treeline coming up from Panther Gorge. I was just a few feet below the summit of Haystack, carrying a pair of lightning rods in my hands, when I heard the thunder . Since lightning can skip along the wet exposed rock (as demonstrated on Algonquin Peak a few years ago), all I could do was to keep descending and hope for the best. Also, I dispensed with my usual summit celebration of hands (and trek poles) held high overhead. I did utter one "whoo-hoo", though. Luckily, the rain stopped, no more thunder was heard, and I was able to escape over Little Haystack. Unless I was in the midst of a thunder storm with bolts flying, I would keep on hiking down to a safer area. If necessary, I would have hunkered down in the H-LH col 'til the storm seemed to have passed.