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I have pitched up in a copse of trees, figuring if lightning did strike it would be dissipated. Besides I used the tree trunks as tent pegs.
I have also pitched my bed for the night in a toilet a barn a bus shelter Used my metal framed bed for the toilet and barn, but slept on the bench seats in the bus shelter Beginning to think it might be a good idea to have a throw over cover for the bike big enough to include me to lying face down on the tank bag. |
I hate lightning.
Most recently I was caught in a lightning storm on some lonely plains on the Mali/Mauritania border. Nowhere to go, flat land just shrubs. Tent and bike being most metallic things in sight. I crouched, in my underwear, about 100 feet from my camp till it subsided. I recognized that it's a ridiculous thing to do but it made me feel better so I did it. I would be curious as to survival percentages for metal-poled tents hit by lightning. |
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regards Tim sent by tapatalk |
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"I’m double bred for death by fire. You got to get away from anything metal at all. You dont know what’ll get you. Brads in your overalls. Nails in your boots." And on a more practical level, though I can dry off quickly with a towel my pants, boots and jacket would be a sloppy, mouldy mess by morning. Inside the tent was dry, I aimed to keep it that way. |
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When caught in the open during an electical storm the percieved safe places sometimes aren't. Being directly struck by lightening is one thing, but most people are injured by the charge moving through the ground from a nearby strike.
Standing under trees is very much like holding an unbrella above your head! I have seen a case where a young girl was killed hiding from a thunderstorm in the rain. Deperssions in the ground are good as long as they are not wet. When the lightening hits the ground its going to find the lowest path of resistance (ie through the water), so being in the dryest place is the best thing for it. You need to insulate yourself from the earth as much as possible so the charge will not divert itself through your body which will conduct electricity better than the earth. Crouching with your feet as close together as possilbe (touching) will reduce the resistance your body will offer the charge if it happens to want to jump through you, reducing burns from entry or exit areas. Do not put your hands on the ground as the charge is liable to enter the body through the hand and out of the feet getting a lot closer to the heart with obvious problems. If worst came to the worst I would stay in the tent, insulate yourself from the ground watching out for metal conductors and if it gets close, adopt the crouching position. It won't last forever!!!! |
Dave,
Good to know - would crouching on an airmat be a good way to insulate yourself and would you think it a good idea NOT to be near your motorcycle In a storm? Many thanks! |
Anything that will insulate you from the ground is good, pump up your airbed hard but you just have to be careful that little bits of metal like zips or laces don't undo your head work.
A lot of people go on about getting rid of conductive material near you, but the secret is to ensure you do not allow conductive things to ease the passage of electicity thorough you. If it looks like you might get some action, then park the bike a bit further away if it looks like it might be a good conductor, but don't go out in a storm to move it. Getting wet through and introducing lots of water into your tent is only likely to make things worse. I have my experience of electical storms from mountaineering. I've only ever been close once high up in the Dolomites. Don't be too worried about it, it doesn't strike people that often and if you can take some precautions then you massivley reduce the odds yet again. |
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