I’m very cautious when mountaineering throughout thunderstorm season, particularly above the treeline the place there isn’t a safety from lightning, hail, and excessive winds. I’ve simply had too many shut calls the place thunderstorms have caught me out within the open and scared me half to dying with their fury. Whereas I can peacefully sleep by way of storms like this whereas tenting at night time, it’s a unique matter to be caught out within the open with no place to cover.
Whereas there’s a probability that you just’ll get beaned by a baseball-sized chunk of ice throughout a hailstorm, hit by flying tree branches, swept away in a flash flood (the primary reason for thunderstorm-related deaths), or zapped by floor present lightning which may journey tons of of toes from the purpose of impression over roots and rocks, one of the simplest ways to keep away from these risks is to keep away from thunderstorms altogether.
Thunderstorm Warning Indicators
One of the best ways to keep away from thunderstorms is to heed climate forecasts (if in case you have entry to them) and sit out storms or hike throughout the hours once they’re least more likely to happen. With a little bit expertise, you can too precisely forecast the climate by protecting a detailed eye on cloud formations, wind pace, wind path, or barometric strain when mountaineering out within the open the place the specter of lightning and hail is the best.
For instance, in New England, thunderstorm exercise is very seasonal, occurring most often from June by way of August. In the event you plan on mountaineering or backpacking on this space throughout these months, be sure you construct a nasty climate day or two into your journey schedule in case it’s essential abort a hike due to harmful climate. I’ve made the error of attempting to push on previously and it’s simply not price it.
Most summer season thunderstorms happen between midday and midnight when the solar has had an opportunity to warmth up the nice and cozy moist air which rises to type a thunderstorm. In the event you do have to hike by way of an uncovered or open space, it’s finest to get an early morning begin so you will get by way of it earlier than the early afternoon hours earlier than most storms attain a mature stage of thunderstorm formation.
In the event you can see the sky, you can too monitor attainable thunderstorm exercise by on the lookout for massive puffy cumulus clouds on the horizon. If they begin rising very tall or anvil-shaped, you may count on a serious thunderstorm. For instance, I’ve been on hikes by way of extremely uncovered alpine areas the place I’ve been in a position to see such clouds approaching me from 30 miles away. The sight of those clouds inspired me to hike so much quicker and to get under the treeline earlier than they arrived and let free their full wrath!
In the event you stay alert to the climate when mountaineering and backpacking, there’s no motive you may’t keep away from being caught within the open when a thunderstorm hits. Most thunderstorms solely final for half-hour, and you may merely wait them out earlier than continuing together with your hike.
