Although lightning is a common and spectacular weather phenomenon, its power is extraordinary. I was reminded of its awesome power when a storm suddenly formed while hiking the summit of the Mount Mitchell mountain range. Fortunately, I swiftly descended to lower ground and took cover before the cloudburst was unleashed. Within minutes of descending, the jagged bolts rapidly lit up the sky. Tragically, we later learned that a fellow backpacker was struck and killed by lightning that same day. The following week, a 20′ tree branch collapsed in a strike, narrowly missing my head by a few seconds. These close […]
Weather
2 posts
When the temperatures become hot, water vapor condenses from nearby water sources and around mountain tops, forming dark clouds. These clouds have the potential to culminate in intense electrical storms. Clearly, it is unwise to continue ascending a summit as the sky pulsates with gigantic bolts of lightning, but sometimes the situation is unavoidable. You may not know that a storm is coming until it crests the summit towards which you may be ascending. In those cases, there are safety measures you can take to protect yourself. Nevertheless, you can reduce your chances of becoming caught off guard by surprise storms as […]