Hanging a bear bag; lightening

[Dainon]

I leave in 3 weeks and finally have 99% of things ready to go. Still, a couple of questions.

I have a 10X21 Equinox sil-nylon stuff sack to keep food in. It isn't exactly the same, but here is a pic that is very close:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/hitthetrailnewnanga_1840_3001571

The top of the sack has a very thin cord drawstring; the bottom of the sack has a strap across it. OK, the question is, when hanging it from a tree as a bear bag, do I tie the parachute cord to the bottom strap on the sack, thus it would be hanging upside down, or tie the parachute cord to the sack's drawstring, thus it would be hanging upright?

My second question concerns heavy thunderstorms. Backpacker magazine has a list of things that every hiker should know, one of them being what to do in a heavy thunderstorm. In brief, the magazine says that you should get off a mountain top area and go to the low area, or if not that, then find a ditch or trench or something and stay there until the storm passes. Sitting on a Thermarest or something similar wouldn't hurt, either. The question is, is this a legit. concern? If a storm blew up at night, I just can't see myself tearing down the tent, etc. and hiking off the mountain. On the other hand, I don't want to be burnt toast. Advice/suggestions?

[Footslogger]

Just my opinion here ...but I would tie it upside down, using the strap on the bottom of the stuff sack, to prevent rain from entering the bag. That's the way I've alwasy done it. While on the topic, I'll throw in that I have often seen hikers use these mega caribiners to hang their food bags. Darned things are huge and are designed to hold the weight of a climber. Consider using a little "baby biner" sold at many outfitters that weighs less than an ounce and is more than adequate for the average food bag weight.

'Slogger
AT 2003

[Whistler]

I hang by the bottom strap, and a mini-biner does greatly simplify the process. If the bag has enough slack, I twist the opening end and wrap the drawcord around it, which helps take some pressure off of that teeny little cordlock.
-Mark

[Peaks]

Food sack: I hang mine by the strap on the bottom. If you know how to tie a bowline, then you don't need to carry a caribiner.

Lightning: Real simple: Just don't be the highest thing around, or be next to the highest thing around.

[yogi clyde]

Another vote for the strap on the bottom.
I have a small biner tied on to my rope, which I also use to tie a rock to, to get it up and over a tree limb. Clip on the strap and lift.

Thunderstorms are a very real danger, twice last summer I had to drop my pack and get off the ridge (the trail was still going up). I found them to be great motivators.

[Lilred]

I think it's unanimous. Tie the rope to the foodbag's strap on the bottom and hang it upside down to keep the rain out.

One thing I learned in my meteorology class. Lightning doesn't have to hit you to kill you. If it hits the ground near you, it can come up out of the ground through your foot and kill ya that way too. If you are in an area that there is no cover, and it's lightning all around you, here's one way to save your life. Crouch as low to the ground as you can without sitting on it, with your feet touching each other. If your feet are apart, and lightning hits, it will run up one leg to the heart and out of the body, possibly, probably, killing you. If your feet are together, it will enter one foot and shoot across to the other foot and out. Your feet will get burnt, but you have a better chance of living.

[RockyTrail]

I'm different :jump

I've always used a plain nylon sack (without a bottom strap); just twist the top closed, fold it over drybag-style and attach the rope using a simple cow hitch (a.k.a. lark's head) cinched up tight around the folded over top. Quick to tie and untie, no leaks.

You can also quickly attach multiple bags to the same rope this way.

You can add a half-hitch or use a "pedigreed cow hitch" if you want more security against slippage for the lowest bag, but I haven't had one slip yet.

http://www.layhands.com/Knots/Knots_Hitches.htm , scroll to No. 8