Colorado's Front Range is particularly prone to lightning with over 500,000 ground strikes between Pikes Peak and Rocky Mountain National Park every year. 2 to 3 people are killed and 13 injured on average each year in Colorado. In reviewing all the documented casualties of lightning strikes in Colorado dating back to 1950 for the book, I have observed there are several common situations which result in people being struck by lightning.
People are human lightning rods. A living person is a highly charged bundle of electrical activity because of our nervous system. A group of people obviously multiplies the effect. Put an individual or a group of people in a large, flat open field where their bodies are the high point, or standing on a high, exposed ridge line greatly increases the chances of being struck by lightning when thunder can be heard or lightning seen in the area. Add some metal to the equation like standing next to a car or small airplane, power poles, tent poles, golf clubs, fishing poles, rifles, boats, bikes, umbrellas, backpacks and whatever other situation involves metal and the chances of being struck go up even more. Some common situations that result in people being struck by lightning during a storm include sports teams practicing in an open field, golfers, hikers along open, exposed high points and bike riders. Hikers are the most frequent victims of lightning strikes. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park and Pike's Peak outside Colorado Springs are two places that people (mostly visiting tourists who are unaware of the danger) are regularly struck by lightning. 2 visitors were killed and 7 injured on hiking trails just off Trail Ridge Road on 2 successive days last July despite large signs warning of the danger posted at the trail heads. The most unusual situation involving metal was a couple of skiers killed in an April lightning storm at Vail. The most unusual group situation that was documented in 2004 was a group of college students in an annual event where golf balls were driven off into the distance from the edge of a high mesa near Granby. Over 30 students with golf clubs standing in the open on a high spot during a lightning storm! 19 were injured when a lightning bolt struck. So, what to do if you find yourself in this situation? Groups should disperse, head down hill or indoors and ditch any metal objects. For those that climb 14ers, when the static electricity gets so high that your hair stands on end, forget bagging that 14er and head downhill.
Avoid natural lightning rods. Trees are the most common natural lightning rod. Large solitary trees in the middle of open fields, or on or near ridge lines look like a great place to take shelter. Don't do it! or even be close to a tree in that situation. There are many examples of people being struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a tree. Lightning often-times causes a tree to completely explode sending wood shrapnel out at high velocity. The air blast from a lightning bolt can also cause injuries. The other natural lightning rod of significance is exposed ridge tops, especially above tree line.
Your chances of being struck by lightning are very low, even if you are in an exposed, higher risk situation. For Colorado, I have estimated the odds at about 1 in 650,000 in any given year.
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