Walking thru Thunderstorms

Rebekah Scott said:

I read the bits about the San Salvador route, and I say Amen. I very much love that camino, but it has tried to kill me a couple of times.
As for "comfort zones," I had a snow experience similar to T2Andro´s up there in March 2009, when the path was still waymarked near the ground... I had to use orienteering skills to keep on the path. Later that year, in September, I went back with an English friend who had a GPS unit (we wrote the first English guide), and walked into a thunderstorm at the top of the Sierra de Cuchillos pass above Busdongo. It was the coolest thing... you could actually see water condensing out of the clouds before your eyes! And then...KABOOOOM! My hair stood up, we hit the ground, the whole world went blindingly bright!! The rocks behind Piers were smoking... The lightning bolt missed us by about three meters.
I RAN straight down the side of that mountain, despite the underbrush and snakes and cow patties and pouring rain.
Piers thought I was really funny. He took a picture, but it´s not something you wanna look at!

Click to expand...

trecile said:

I've watched the movie twice and was never clear on how he had died.

Click to expand...

Sheffield James said:

I admit to being a bit nervous walking when there is the prospect of thunderstorms during the day ahead. I’m well aware of the general advice to avoid standing under trees and not to have metal walking poles sticking out from your backpack, but there may be other good advice to follow. I feel at my most vulnerable when caught out walking across open ground at the height of a storm, so is it possible to be reassured about my safety at such times?

Click to expand...

Sheffield James said:

I’ll have to look back at my original post to double-check I included the word “reassurance” in it!

Click to expand...

Wokabaut_Meri said:

FYI should you be caught in a storm this is very useful information from UK Mountain Safety: Walking Poles and Lightning. I was struck by lightning as a child so was fortunate - both to just be knocked off my feet with a fried schoolbag and then to then be instructed at Brownies about what I should have done

Click to expand...

Kanga said:

I have enjoyed the excitement of a massive thunder-and-lightening storm on the meseta, but not that close thank goodness. Not many places to take shelter. Using metal trekking sticks adds to the fun. I'd never thought about the metal underwire in my bra. Conjures up images of female pilgrims ripping off their underclothes and casting them to the winds.

Click to expand...

Tincatinker said:

... This will make it much easier for the Emergency Services to find all your bits..."

Click to expand...

Camino Chrissy said:

I've yet to hear of any pilgrims struck by lightening while on the camino (except for Daniel in "The Way") and 200,000 walk it each year. If you've been a "good boy" you will most likely have no worries.

P.S. Have other forum members heard of any incidents? Odds are that odds are very low either way.☺

Click to expand...