Earlier today I had lighting strike less than 50 feet away from me!!!! Did you know lightning makes a snapping sound when it strikes the ground??? I do!!!! Luckily I was standing in my covered parking on dry ground. Made me jump so hard. Damn do my ribs hurt now!!!! Pain aside, to be able to safely witness something so incredibly powerful, that's something I'll remember for life!!! Truly awestruck by it! The mathematical chances of me standing there, looking out across the neighborhood, to be able to experience something so raw, so fierce, so brief and so close! Really made my day! The sound of it was incredible! And the thunder, DAMN. THAT. WAS. LOUD!!!
Hey Lint, I'm starting to wonder if it might be a good idea for you to get one of these when you go outside your house: haha JK!
I am here to tell you from experience, if lightning catches a [art of you, you hear nothing. You jsut shut down and hurt some fucking awful for a split second. Lighting hit a tree about 30 feet away from me in 2006 at the KOA in Winthrop Wa. I was tethering down the canopy at the time. It looked to me like my arms lit up blue white in front of my eyes, and I woke up about five feet from where I was kneeling. Lod Jesus that hurt. Paramedics arrived and hooked me up to things they had and said the readings were all wonky, but after about 1/2 hour, everything settled down. I used to give lightning not much thought befor, other than to sit and watch the amazing display. Now not so. Lightning in the nearby skies adn I am well under cover now. Funny thing. The next day I was out riding with my camping neighbour on the trails nearby Winthrop. Damned near rode off the edge of the trail which would mean a tumble down about 150 foot rock covered embankment. I should have stayed in Canada. Americans can be so inhospitable sometimes.
Lint Crikey another close shave. Reminded me of this .. https://ridermagazine.com/2012/03/07/frightening-lightning/ I really hope these things do not come in threes! What comes next? Or do you have a very dark past and this confirms someone above is out to get you? In which case perhaps it is time to up the life insurance. ..Sorry about adding to the painful ribs... Take CARE and ATGATT + carry a lightning rod! SkiMad
I used to believe that if you were amongst very tall buildings, trees and such, you were relatively safe. No more! Winthrop is in a bit of a valley. The mountains surrounding the town are maybe 2,000 feet. And the forest there is fairly mature. Yet that bolt of lightning arrived on the valley floor and struck a deciduous tree that was maybe 30 feet tall. I picket up a piece of wood and bark that had been blown from that tree and intended on lacquering it and mounting it somewhere to hang in the garage as a reminder of my misfortune, or fortune, depending on how you look at it. After moving it around the shop for maybe 7 or 8 years and not having done that project, it became land fill.
Lighting...... I have a very high respect for it. I have been chased of Mt Moran 2 times by lighting, have yet to summit it. Also chased off the Grand Teton right after sumiting, had to do the giant repel during the storm. My ears were ringing for an hour after, the explosions were so loud. 5 Years ago I climbed the Grand with my daughter, started about 230 am and were on top at 930 am. The next day was the was the most people ever hit by lighting on the Grand, 10 peole hit, I think 2 died on top and 1 died in the hospital and the rest were messed up.
The lighting capital of the world fluctuates between Ocala Fl and I think somewhere in India. I have seen a lot of close strikes from my back porch around the small lake behind my house. Flash! Bang! You know its close when it feels like someone punched you in the chest and your ears are ringing. lol
When I was in high school we use to fish off a huge bridge down in the Keys. After a big thunderstorm one night we went back out onto the bridge. My girlfriends hair was flying around and our fishing pole tips were glowing blue. Then when you put your arm in the air there were blue lights off of each finger. We thought it was cool. Come to find out from our science teacher that it was St. Elmo's fire and we were in danger of discharge (lighting) from ionized air.
