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Backpacker Magazine – October 2008
America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Barr Trail, Pikes Peak, CO
A hair-raising hike
The Hike As the state with America's highest average elevation (6,800 feet), Colorado and its mountains see a shocking amount of electrical activity, and 20 of the 48 lightning incidents reported in Colorado since 2000 have involved hikers and campers. The sparkiest spot surrounds 14,115-foot Pikes Peak. According to Stephen Hodanish, Senior Meteorologist with NOAA's Lightning Safety Team, Pikes Peak collects the relatively moist air currents of southern Colorado, swirls them around with turbulent winds off the plains, and creates a potent combination of moisture, lift, and instability that invites bolts. A road reaches the summit, but hikers enjoy no such easy route up: The Barr Trail, the most popular footpath, gains 7,400 vertical feet over 13 miles (one way), much of that through exposed meadows and boulderfields above treeline. Motorists can dodge lightning by ducking into their cars, but hikers often find themselves trapped with no fast escape from instant incineration.
Exhibit A Storm clouds were gathering over Pikes Peak by 1 p.m. on July 25, 2000, but no lightning had yet flashed from the clouds, so 18-year-old Frazee Waltman figured he still had time to scurry down off the summit before the daily afternoon electrical show. He didn't. Waltman had only descended as far as the Golden Staircase, a rocky stretch of the Barr Trail 100 feet below the summit, when the storm's first bolt fried him–but left his two buddies uninjured. Not even a thunderclap alerted the trio of the impending tragedy.
Survival Plan Don't wait to see lightning before retreating: The storm's first flash can prove fatal, so descend as soon as you see clouds thickening and darkening. "Be off the mountain by noon," warns Hodanish. "During the summer In Colorado, the first cloud-to-ground strikes typically occur around 11 a.m. over the high country." If escape is impossible, spread out so your whole group doesn't get fried.
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READERS COMMENTS
I hiked Barr with my young son on a sunshine day with not a cloud in sight. Near the top, within 30 minutes a cloud started to form and light sleet and rain started falling. My son complained about something stinging his back. I removed his backpack to check, and drew a 6 inch arc of electricity from the metal frame to the ground as I set it down. Another 10 minutes and lightening was popping all around the mountain. At that altitude, lightening and thunder are nearly simultaneous (and really loud). I've also seen people on top of the mountain standing near a metal pole that was buzzing with static electricity. Above timberline, expect and prepare for fast weather changes.
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 ken
I hiked Barr with my young son on a sunshine day with not a cloud in sight. Near the top, within 30 minutes a cloud started to form and light sleet and rain started falling. My son complained about something stinging his back. I removed his backpack to check, and drew a 6 inch arc of electricity from the metal frame to the ground as I set it down. Another 10 minutes and lightening was popping all around the mountain. At that altitude, lightening and thunder are nearly simultaneous (and really loud). I've also seen people on top of the mountain standing near a metal pole that was buzzing with static electricity. Above timberline, expect and prepare for fast weather changes.
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 ken
I hiked Barr with my young son on a sunshine day with not a cloud in sight. Near the top, within 30 minutes a cloud started to form and light sleet and rain started falling. My son complained about something stinging his back. I removed his backpack to check, and drew a 6 inch arc of electricity from the metal frame to the ground as I set it down. Another 10 minutes and lightening was popping all around the mountain. At that altitude, lightening and thunder are nearly simultaneous (and really loud). I've also seen people on top of the mountain standing near a metal pole that was buzzing with static electricity. Above timberline, expect and prepare for fast weather changes.
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 ken
I hiked Barr with my young son on a sunshine day with not a cloud in sight. Near the top, within 30 minutes a cloud started to form and light sleet and rain started falling. My son complained about something stinging his back. I removed his backpack to check, and drew a 6 inch arc of electricity from the metal frame to the ground as I set it down. Another 10 minutes and lightening was popping all around the mountain. At that altitude, lightening and thunder are nearly simultaneous (and really loud). I've also seen people on top of the mountain standing near a metal pole that was buzzing with static electricity. Above timberline, expect and prepare for fast weather changes.
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 ken
I hiked Barr with my young son on a sunshine day with not a cloud in sight. Near the top, within 30 minutes a cloud started to form and light sleet and rain started falling. My son complained about something stinging his back. I removed his backpack to check, and drew a 6 inch arc of electricity from the metal frame to the ground as I set it down. Another 10 minutes and lightening was popping all around the mountain. At that altitude, lightening and thunder are nearly simultaneous (and really loud). I've also seen people on top of the mountain standing near a metal pole that was buzzing with static electricity. Above timberline, expect and prepare for fast weather changes.
Posted: Jan 01, 2009 ken
the biggest problems with Barr Trail is that uninitiated hikers start off in a town, close to civilization with one bottle of water, t-shirt, shorts, and have an expectation of up and down in 8 hours. The lightning can be a problem but stupidity and poor preparation are at the top of the list.
Posted: Dec 08, 2008 dave
Why even have a comment section if you're just going to delete anything even the slightest bit derogatory? Bunch of Fox News trainees over here.
Posted: Nov 23, 2008 Nice.
This is kind of silly - Barr trail is a very safe hike, and I've done it several dozen times and never seen a bolt. It's dangerous to be out when it's lightning in general, so you shouldn't be hiking ANYWHERE if it is. Maybe it should be included in "America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes If You're Dumb Enough To Go Up During A Lightning Storm".
Posted: Nov 23, 2008 Dan
This is kind of silly - Barr trail is a very safe hike, and I've done it several dozen times and never seen a bolt. It's dangerous to be out when it's lightning in general, so you shouldn't be hiking ANYWHERE if it is. Maybe it should be included in "America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes If You're Dumb Enough To Go Up During A Lightning Storm".
Posted: Nov 23, 2008 Dan
Anytime you're hiking above tree line in summer when the likelihood of lightning strike is high, it's a good idea to know how to do a lightning drill. Carry a sleeping pad--they're light. Lay it on the ground, put your SOFT pack on it and sit in holding your knees to your chest with your feet off the ground. Ideally you'll want to do this below treeline, but if you can't get there try not to be the tallest thing around. You may want to skip the pack part and just sit on a rolled up pad if you've got lots of metal in your pack (e.g. external frame, etc.). Check out this link from NOLS and WMI for more details.
http://www.nols.edu/resources/research/pdfs/lightningsafetyguideline.pdf
Posted: Nov 14, 2008 Mitch, WFR
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