Lightning kills 1 camper in Baxter

[woodsy]

You just never know: This from a recent news article: (http://www.sunjournal.com/story/226911-3/MaineNews/Lightning_strike_kills_Baxter_camper/)

Many here have no doubt been caught out in violent T-storms and missed a bolt or two ....or three. Some just aren't so fortunate and there is only so much you can do to protect yourself.
Not to sensationalize this tragedy but I happened to freeze frame a picture (http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p200/woodsy2007/100_0468-1.jpg) from a video of the storm that evening that shows how electric the evening was.
This link (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/enviromentalissues/a/lightning.htm) provides some safety tips for traveling in the mountains during T-storms, a refresher if you will.
More mountain lightning safety awareness at the MT Washington observatory site (http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/lightning_safety.php)

[Footslogger]

That gives me pause ...because a couple weeks ago we traversed Saddleback on our first day out of Rangelely as the lightning began. We both saw sparks as the bolts hit the bare rock. We were about half way over so the only choice was to keep a low profile and keep on keepin on.

We made it ...but I clearly remember hearing my wife (25 feet behind me) mumbling "We're gonna die ...we're gonna die"

'Slogger

[woodsy]

Well Slogger, the odds were in your favor at least. The safety tip link says approx. 100 people each year die from lightning strikes and another 500 injured in the U.S.. Out of how many people they did not say but there are a lot of people outside recreating in the summer months.
Not much you can do when caught out on a long mtn range like Saddleback other than obey a few simple rules and keep your fingers crossed of course.
Must have been some scary though just the same seeing sparks flying and all.

[Namaste]

I watched a t-storm from the bunkhouse up at Chimney Pond in Baxter a few weeks ago. Through binoculars I could see 3 people hiking along Knife's Edge during this. Later that afternoon once the weather cleared 3 guys walked by on their way back to Roaring Brook but talked about their summit to Katahdin via Pamola. One got struck in the back and another said he got struck thru his leg; "felt like a taser". Obviously these 3 were very lucky to be walking away but also very stupid to ignore the class II-III warning about weather approaching by continuing their hike.