Well, I and my friends may have done something really stupid on Sunday, July 3rd, but we're still alive to talk about it so I think we lucked out...I'm not sure.
On Sunday we hiked to the summit of San Jacinto. Beginning at 9:00 am, the skies were dark, my wrist barometer readings started at 29.30 and gradually went down to 20.00 as we hiked higher. We had sprinkles at times, wind at times and rain at times along the trail. I kept telling my friends we should turn back but they believe that I am always thinking "gloom and doom", so they told me we should all keep hiking towards the summit and see how the day goes. I was a faithful sheep and followed the rest of the herd even though my heart and head said "No, turn back". I really didn't know what I would
have done if lighting and thunder began. I know to get low, spread out from my frieds by at least 15 feet and to make myself as small as possible and not stand near or under trees, but I was in totally exposed areas at times and the nearest shelter was maybe a rock-over-hang.
We were over 10,000 feet when the rain fell the hardest and the clouds were the darkest. I'm not certain I would know a thunderhead from any other type of cloud.
What would you do if you were in this situation?
Last edited by lynn-a-roo; 07/07/11 11:02 AM.
