![]() There are probably several reasons for this, including a muchīetter understanding of lightning, which in turn has led to better education on safety and avoidance. ![]() The good news is that the number of lightning relatedįatalities has trended downward since 1940 when deaths were measured in the hundreds. According to the Park website, 50% of all known lightning casualties in Colorado occurred: On average, eleven people die from lightning each year inĬolorado. According to the National Outdoor Leadership School, lightning density maps show lightning strikes occurring more often at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains where the air and climate is drier. Hikers at the higher elevations in the Rockies should be especially conscious about the dangers of lightning. The Rocky Mountains are notorious for afternoon thunderstorms during the summer months. Lifetime, your odds of being struck jump to 1 in 3000! Indeed, National Geographic estimates the odds of being struck by lightning at only 1 in 700,000 in any given year. Those casualty figures may seem fairly low. Hikers need to be watchful for storms that produce lightning, particularly in open areas where you may be the highest object in theĪccording to the National Weather Service there are, on average, roughly 25 million lightning strikes that result in 273 injuries and 48 deaths in the U.S. With warm weather comes an increased chance of running into a thunderstorm while out on the trail, especially during the afternoons. Lightning can be one of the most frightening hazards that a hiker can encounter during the summer. Lightning and what you can do while hiking Expect the unexpected: The ultra-light Emergency Bivvy from Adventure Medical Kits acts like a sleeping bag in case you have to make an unplanned overnight stay in the woods.
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