Question with lighting

[Victor Caballeros]

Question, if a paddler is on the river away from his/her car and a storm blows in with frequent lighting strikes. What is the best option to be at? On the water or off the water in the tree line?

[Regud]

lake or creek?

[Victor Caballeros]

Creek

[Joe Purdy]

On a creek, I was instructed that staying on the water is usually safer. If you can make it to a car or shelter ( not a bluff or cave), get in there. Do not hug bluffs or stand under overhang shelters due to the effect of energy traveling along surfaces during a ground strike.

Quote from Paddling safety website- "If no shelter is available, crouch down, feet close together with your head tucked down and your hands over your ears. Spread out, keeping people several yards apart. Minimize your contact with the ground - don't lay down"

[Regud]

Quote from Paddling safety website- "If no shelter is available, crouch down, feet close together with your head tucked down and your hands over your ears. Spread out, keeping people several yards apart. Minimize your contact with the ground - don't lay down"

And kiss your butt goodbye

[Victor Caballeros]

Thanks.

[justin.payne]

Just ask yourself this....."What Would Tom Do?"

[Jim Krueger]

Victor,

I've been caught in several storms over the years on the Caddo River, after I had put-in...Mostly, my preference has been like Joe Purdy mentioned; to keep paddling toward the take-out A.S.A.P., even miles away. There have been a couple of occassions though when it was apparent that a main, fast-moving, storm was at hand when I decided the better part of valor was to beach the boat and crouch on the balls of my feet on the side of a steep gravel bank under my rain top until it passed. On the other trips, the rain & lightning was going to be long-lasting, and while still in the general area, beating a hasty retreat seemed best to me.

Best Regards
Jim Moose

[Eric Esche]

I agree with the least exposure principle, but I like caves, crevices, and overhangs, and have used them many times on creeks all over and here on Beaver lake. Been out in a lot of bad blows on Beaver Lake and have dozen places where I have taken shelter from lightning, hail storms, hard rain, and even snow storms. Had enough drift wood in one, I stayed there for 3-4 hours toasty warm with a fire, reading a book that was in my dry bag,left over from a river trip with my extra clothes, at about 20F. Just happened to have a bag of marshmellows, a thermos of hot tea, and some schnapps. Beautiful afternoon, even if I could not see 50 feet. Never gotten a ground shock yet with rock over me.

Eric

[Owl]

...Just happened to have a bag of marshmallows, a thermos of hot tea, and some schnapps.,,Eric

I like your style Eric. :)

[tomOzarkVideo]

My wife and I, 6 of our friends and about 20 other folks got an indirect hit last year on the Illinois. We had our feet dangling in the water like idiots.. I've never seen a scramble for the shore quite like it. No one was hurt but MAN.... It stung.

[unicorn]

Just ask yourself this....."What Would Tom Do?"

you mean start thinking about all the ways the situation could go horribly, disastrously wrong and then giggle to himself like a crazy person?