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Hiking dilemma. Be a good sport or bail with thunderstorms?

Tomorrow our fearless hiking leader, Gro, wants to hike steep Fourth of July trail with a 70% chance of rain. This trail is high in the mountains.

Hazardous weather outlook: slow-moving thunderstorms in the mountains with heavy rain and possible mudslides and landslides in steep (check) and burned terrain (check).

Instead, I suggested we hike on Wednesday (sunny) or down-shift to lower Icicle Gorge trail. We can enjoy Icicle Gorge even in the rain.

Gro has a long history of wanting to keep going in heavy rain, lightning, hail, snowstorms, ice storms, etc. I think that's nuts. Safety first.

My favorite hiking partner Karen is gone this week. Karen hikes at my pace. So, I'm stuck with Gro who is so fast, I wind up hiking alone. No fun.

Be a good sport or bail?

Photo: Karen (left) and Gro (right) on Fourth of July trail in good weather. 2016.

UPDATE: I decided to bail. Thanks, everyone!

LiterateHiker 9 Sep 9
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30 comments (26 - 30)

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1

I’d bail. Safety is important

1

Your Health and Wellbeing are Priority One.

1
1

Hiking with a threat of thunderstorms is not wise. A woman was hit by lightning and killed n the west highlands of Scotland earlier this year but it literally was "a bolt from the blue" as no thunderstorms were forecast. She was just very unlucky.

1

Rain is uncomfortable; lightning can be deadly.

MizJ Level 8 Sep 9, 2019

@MizJ

You're right. On Fourth of July trail, we would be exposed, high on ridges with thunderstorms and lightning. Unsafe.

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