(7/26/02)
Whether on a rooftop like this - or a high ridge on a mountainside. You DON'T want to be the highest thing standing here or there - waiting for Nature to unleash all that energy.
Lightning is still the number ONE cause of weather related deaths in Utah - and every season - even drought years like this one - the toll keeps ratcheting up.
Dean Withrow and Al Baer are in their 70's now. Both are veteran climbers and both are survivors of lightning strikes. They get together like this once a week to play golf. But in July and August when thunder bumpers move through this valley - they play in the morning - not the afternoon. Like the climbers yesterday, they too got hit on a ridge near a mountain top years ago. For them, it was Deseret Peak.
AL BAER, LIGHTNING SURVIVOR: "THE MESSAGE I THINK BOTH OF US WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE IS THAT YOU DON'T GET A WARNING. THERE WERE SOME CLOUDS MOVING UP THE MOUNTAIN. SOMEHOW IT REMINDED ME OF THE FOG COMING IN OVER THE PEAKS OF SAN FRANCISCO - ABOUT AS INNOCUOUS - AND THE NEXT THING, WE WERE DOWN."
Dean Withrow took the brunt of the hit. The lightning bolt burned him severely, shattered both ear drums - and broke his collar bone.
The advice - as always. Plan your hikes accordingly. Simply Don't find yourself caught in high places when thunderstorms - even dry ones - are predicted.
Don't play golf under thunderclouds.
Simply don't play on open courses or in fields where you suddenly become the most convenient lightning rod.
