This video discusses what you need to do if you encounter a lightning storm on your Wilderness Expedition. theamericanbackpacker.tv (Theamericanbackpacker@gmail.com)
Firstly, love your vids. Second, I've been a licensed NOAA Storm Spotter for 15 years and you've done a great job describing the correct procedures here, with one exception. Lightening is not attracted to metal. Without getting too technical, lightening usually strikes whatever is closest as it descends regardless of chemical makeup. This is why crouching is important. Also the ground surge is why you get on the balls of your feet. The less contact with the ground the less contact with the ground surge. Animals can die from ground surges because they have 4 feet and thus 4 points of contact with a ground surge. The very worst thing you can do in a lightening storm is lie down.
Outstanding, thank you for expert advice. I appreciate the feedback and compliment. Your response on ground surge and using an animal with 4 legs was a great way to visualize it.. Thank you for watching my channel/videos.
I got stuck in a lightning storm this summer while camping, and I realized I had no idea what to do! Glad I found this so I can be more prepared and safe in the future, thanks!
Thankyou for finally explaining the reason for avoiding trees during a lightning storm. I've never understood this. Surely, I thought, being next to a tree would be good, because lightning will strike the tree, not you. Now, finally, I get it.
I've wondered with the shape of some of these hub aluminum pole tent designs if any would actually act as a Faraday cage. If it did reroute the actual electrical current around the outside of the tent, would the heat still melt your air mattress? Anyone know a link that answers my questions? I couldn't find one. Thanks
From what I know and have read a tent will not provide protection similar to a Faraday cage. The danger of with a lightning strike while being in a tent is the ground surge. That is why staying on your air mattress will help during a lightning strike.
The aluminum frame poles of your tent will not shield you from lightning. There is always a possibility that lightning will directly hit your tent, but your concern should be the ground surge from a lightning strike. Lightning will be attracted to tall items like trees. So if your tent is too close to a tree when it is hit the ground surge from the trees roots will be what affects you. Make sure that your tent is not the highest point at your basecamp. Make sure that you have it far enough away from taller objects in your basecamp, such as trees, so if the tree is hit the ground surge will not affect you. If your tent is on high ground have an area that you can evacuate to that is low lying. Set up a secondary location to evacuate to until the storm passes. If you are in your tent follow what I stated in my video.
If the air mattress is protecting you why isnt it be fine to remain laying on top of it? I worry standing on it would make the chance of me touching the ground through the mat greater with the weight of my body in the middle?
Your point is well noted. Ultimately in a lightning storm you should seek low ground away from tall objects such as trees. Remember the ground surge is what will effect you and not a direct strike. If you are in a forest with a lot of trees around you then look for the lowest ground around you with the shortest trees and hunker down. Now if you are in your tent and that is where you have to stay you want to minimize your body contact with the ground. Crouching down and getting on the balls of your feet will do this. As you stated in your question, doing this will force a greater part of your weight on the balls of your feet thus causing you to touch the ground. There are many variables in this situation such as; the thickness of your air mat , how big the person is, what is the size your tent is and its material composition. Being in a tent is a tough situation, especially if your tent is small and you are a big person. Try to minimize your contact with the ground. If all you can do is lie or sit in efforts to minimize your contact then do that if getting on the balls of your feet cannot be done. Make sure that you try not to touch the tent poles or tent itself during the storm. Remember that is a survival situation you may have to adapt and overcome to minimize the danger. Good question stay safe on your travels.
Do your research by getting a good updated topographical map and looking at the terrain you plan on traveling through. You will not be able to avoid trees, especially if utilize a hammock. Just be careful of not attaching your hammock or placing your tent near tall tree’s. Look for shorter trees when setting up your basecamp. Lightning is usually attracted to taller objects such as trees. Remember to watch out for weak and damaged trees that may fall during a storm and injure you.
I understand your concerns about having a metal container on you during a lightning storm. Your bear spray has the possibility of attracting lightning if the strike is close enough to you. Lightning strikes are indiscriminate and originate many miles in the sky. Most individuals that have been struck were a result of a ground surge. For example, a lightning strike hitting a tall tree then traveling to its roots to the surrounding area. I would tell you that most lightning storms pass quickly and removing your bear spray would not necessarily put you in jeopardy of being attacked. On the other hand, If you are in immediate danger of a bear attacking you then the likely hood of your bear spray attracting the lightning is extremely low. I would still recommend you ditching your spray unless there is the immediate danger of getting attacked. Remember that the most important think to do in a lightning storms to be in a low lying area away from tall objects.
Hi there Andy, Thanks for the well considered response. I get that it is probably more safe to leave the bear spray unless an attack is imminent. Thanks again. I like the pace of your presentations as it gives me time to think through. Keep up the informative and good work.
There is some debate on being in a hammock during a lightning storm. Some say that if you’re elevated off the ground you are protected from any ground surge minus a direct hit. The other argument is that the ropes or tethers that attach your hammock to the trees will conduct the strike towards your hammock. Especially, if you have metal items attached to them such as carabiners. Here is my suggestion. First, make sure you do not have any conductive material in your hammock. Second do not tie your hammock to trees that are the highest in the area that you plan on setting up your basecamp. I recently took a trip into the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho last month. I was near a lake at about 8000 feet when a severe storm moved in. The storm had lightning, wind, and hail. I felt safe on where my hammock was setup. I had it attached to trees lower than the others around me. I stayed in my hammock and enjoyed the storm. You can check out my Mountain Storm video I recently posted on my Facebook page, The American Backpacker, to see how severe this storm was. I hope that I answered your question if you need further, let me know.
Circumstances will dictate. When you set up your basecamp search your nearby area/terrain and look for a lower lying area then where your tent is, (e.g. a depression etc.). If a storm moves in use this location as a safe haven until the storm passes. You may want to set up a modified canopy to protect you from the rain. If this is not feasible and you need to stay in the tent then do what I put out the video. Stay flexible and always pre-plan in the event of a thunderstorm moving into your area of operation.
Just wondering about squatting inside your tent on an air mattress. Wouldn’t you pretty much be standing on the ground.? would a cradle position on that air mattress increase the gap between you and the ground? just wondering.
Yes squatting can be difficult during a thunderstorm. The reason you would squat on the balls of your feet is to minimize body contact with the ground. Lighting strikes cause ground surges which travel from the source, (e.g. trees) You want to minimize body contact with the ground. It can be difficult doing it on an air mat especially if it is thin. The air in the mat will help some to insulate you. You should always scout out an area you plan on setting up your basecamp at looking for low lying areas, (e.g. depressions, etc), away from high objects such as trees to temporarily evacuate to in case a lightning storm moves in. If you get caught in a lightning storm as you are navigating through a wilderness area then you would do the same thing, look for a low lying area away from tall objects such as trees.
Staying in your hammock depends on what trees you have your hammock attached to. If the trees are taller then the one around you then you may have a greater chance of being affected by lightning. When lightning hits a tree the surge works its way down the tree into the roots causing a ground surge. Try tying your hammock to the shorter trees at your basecamp. If you are in the open then I would recommend temporarily evacuating your basecamp to a pre-selected secondary location. The area should be a low lying area away from tall trees. I think that being in a hammock is fairly safe since you are not touching the ground and a ground surge is what affects more individuals then a direct strike. The cordage and what components you use to attach your hammock to a tree also play a big role in how you will be affected. Metallic components may conduct some of the surge and so will wet cordage. I think that you are probably safer in a hammock than you are in a tent.
Good question Amy. The reason you cover your ears is because you are protecting your eardrums from rupturing. A lightning strike will a cause pressure disturbance that displaces the air around you. It causes a sound wave that can damage internal components of your ear. By covering your ears you are protecting your eardrums thus mitigating damages such as a ruptured eardrum.
