Brian Nystrom wrote:
skip wrote:
Four of us were paddling one of the spring creeks in Florida's
Ocala
National Forest when a thunder storm blew up rather suddenly. The
temperature dropped quickly and the rain was cold. The lightning
was
following the thunder by only a second or two. Much too close for
comfort.

We were in a swampy area with cypress knees and brush on each side
- we
could not see solid land. The first solid land in sight was about
15-20
minutes down river.

One of the paddlers in a tee shirt and shorts paddling a sit on top
kayak
was complaining about being cold. It was raining hard and we
didn't have
extra rain gear for her.

What should we have done?

Statistically, the most dangerous place for a paddler to be in such a

situation is where the water meets the land, which means that heading
to
shore is somewhat risky. You're actually safer - from lightning, that
is
- on open water. However, if wind and water conditions or other
factors
create a greater risk, heading to shore may be the safest bet. Avoid
tall trees, but my understanding is that sheltering in low brush or a

grove/forest of short trees is no problem, so if it provides enough
shelter to alleviate exposure problems, that's a good place to be.
The
safest place to be in the outdoors is in a shallow depression, well
away
from shore, squatting down on something that will insulate you from
the
ground, with both feet on the ground and not touching the ground with

your hands.

What you REALLY need to do is learn from this experience. ALWAYS
carry
extra clothing, food, water and emergency gear, including a reliable
means of emergency communication (on the water, a marine VHF radio is

the best bet). Check the weather before leaving and watch it
carefully
throughout the day. As your experience shows, a seemingly benign day
can
turn ugly in a hurry. BE PREPARED! Lack of preparedness is a major
cause
of outdoor injuries and fatalities.


Brian, I live here in Denver, the High Plains, and called the
lightening capitol. I have heard about squatting on your mat for
insulation, and personally I think that rates up there with "duck and
cover". You are in the correct position to bend over and Kiss your Ass
goodbye! Lightening after it has traveled through 20 - 50 miles of
atmosphere does and goes where lightening wants, and a half inch of
foam padding is not going to make much difference, unless it makes you
feel more comfortable.

I suspect that staying on the water is as good as anyplace to be. The
lightening is a function of the ionosphere, and from an ionic
viewpoint, if you stay low in your kayak, with no mast, expecially
aluminum, then you would just be another wave top on the water as far
as the lightening is concerned. Then it is just a matter of chance of
you or a million other wave tops being discharged to. Not terrible
odds, since the water is in motion, and constantly discharging the
ionic buildup. It might be a good time to try your greenland paddle as
well, instead of that aluminum shafted model.

If you try to get ashore, and moving around on land which is static and
building up a charge, your intrusion probably is going to cause a
discharge. Not good, since you are at the point of discharge. If you
could get into low brush or trees that is best, but then sit still. The
clowns that keep running around looking for a better spot are going to
just be creating additional discharge interruptions. Again good thing
is don't be carrying that aluminum shafted paddle with you. and worse
yet get under the bigger trees.

However the worse place is a high exposed ridge or mountain top. Every
year we have folks get hit here while hiking in the mountains. Also
playing golf or running around in a baseball field. The best thing is
make yourself as low and blended into the surrounding ionic background.
Then know that it is still a game of chance. I have seen lightening hit
a bush in the bottom of a canyon surrounded by high ridges with lots of
tall trees around. Just about the time you think you have it figured
out, you will get a surprise. TnT