Got caught in a lightning storm on the JMT near Muir Pass last August

I was hiking the John Muir Trail last summer and got pinned down near Muir Pass when a freak storm rolled in around 2pm. No trees, no shelter, just me and my aluminum poles on a big exposed stretch. I remembered some guy on a forum saying to ditch your poles and crouch on your pack to get off the ground. So I sat there for 45 minutes with hail hitting my face, counting seconds between flashes. That storm changed how I plan my daily altitude gains now. I check weather reports way more carefully and I always aim to be below treeline by noon. Has anyone else had a close call with lightning on a high route?

2 comments

2 Comments

bell.emma7h ago

45 minutes in hail with aluminum poles? That's terrifying. Did the pack actually work for insulation or were you still feeling the ground buzz? I've always wondered if those crouch positions do anything real or just make you feel less helpless.

andrew_nguyen647h agoMost Upvoted

Whoa, that brings back some memories! I actually got caught in a crazy hailstorm a few years back while hiking in the Rockies, no aluminum poles thankfully but I had a thick sleeping pad in my pack. I used it as a seat and it actually helped a ton, kept the cold and buzz off the ground way better than just my rain pants. The crouch thing is real though, I tucked into a ball with my pack over my head and it made a huge difference, I swear the lightning felt less close even if it's just mental. My hands were still shaking from the adrenaline when it stopped, but I'd do it again if I had to.