[at-l] at-l Lightening Strikes

[janl2@mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

Hi

Well, this brought back a sharp memory.

Only did a section this spring, but was caught on a ridge near Roan
Mountain with my stepson this June. There were some close strikes and
we could smell the ozone. Pretty intense. Scary.

We did get low and stowed our aluminum hiking poles a ways away, but
after having done all we could, we just stood there - resigned
ourtselves to the fact that it wasn't our call anymore. Oh well, let
fate decide now... 

At least it would be quick, right? Wouldn't we all like to go out in a
blaze of light! (As opposed to a slow, cancerous death, say...) Go out
with yer boots on, I say!

Not to be too flip, but some point, in just setting foot in the
backcountry, we all make that choice, consciously or not.
Best,
Jan in NC

> Question for those who have done a thru or very long section
(several 
> hundred miles) on the AT... How many times did you run into heavy
> electric 
> storms?  Not the ones that rumble off over there somewhere, but the
> kind 
> where lightning is flashing all around you and the thunder sounds
like
> bombs going off.  Is this a concern or am I just freaking myself out
> like 
> Bill Bryson did with his obsession over bears?
> 
> sAunTerer


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    Jan Leitschuh Sporthorses Ltd.

http://www.mindspring.com/~janl2

E-mail:  mailto:janl2@mindspring.com

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