My Dorkleheadness almost got me killed....

[TheVTCGuy]

I swear.... I know I'm the President of the Dorklehead club... but sometimes I even amaze myself... SO... Here is the story.

One of my hobbies is hiking, nothing hard-core but I enjoy getting out whenever I can and pushing myself. One of my favorite spots is Cuyamaca state park, about an hour outside of San Diego. They have a couple peaks, I think the tallest is around 6500 feet. I have hiked there many times, never going to the top peak, but the other one, probably 4500 feet high, about a 7 mile and 4 hour total hike. Well, I'm still amped about my heart-stress test on the treadmill last week, so decided this weekend I had NO excuses, I was going to push myself, go to the higher peak, I knew I could do it, but I was going to work really hard, push myself to the limit and climb that mountain! Because it's there! and it's the American thing to do! And... and... Well, you get the idea... I'm a Dorklehead.

As I started the drive out, I noticed some dark clouds forming around the mountain. "Great" I thought, "It won't be so sunny and hot" I mean, it never rains in Southern California... NOT in San Diego in September... and a THUNDERSTORM in San Diego (especially in September) is IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Right Tony and Randy?

As I parked my car in the lot, I noticed mine was the ONLY car there.... "hmmm... that's peculiar...." I wonder why no one else is getting ready to hike the mountain ? Undaunted.... I started off.

I walked through a couple rain showers.... actually greatful for the cooling effect. "This is great!" I thought... "I'm going to get to the top of that mountain!!!!" And I kept moving on! (Dorkle- Head... )

So, I make it to the top.... and I am SO Elated with myself!!!!! What a view!!!! My heart is fine! I pushed myself, I MADE IT!!! Woo Hoo!!! I'm holding my (metal) walking stick over my head like Moses parting the Red Sea! I wish there was somebody around I could share this moment with (Of course, I hadn't seen another soul since starting my hike). See how happy I look in the first pic!?!?! And what a great view too!!!!

Just then.... I hear this.... Low Rumble.... BOOOOOoooooooommmmm behind me.

"It's nothing" I tell myself... Nothing...... Then.. another... Louder...

BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM.....

Hmmmm.....

Then.... a VERY LOUD BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM CRACK!!!!

I swear... I hear the LORD himself talking to me... saying:

D O R K L E H E A D.... TURN AROUND!!!!

So I did.... And saw the biggest... meanest... blackest cloud heading straight for me;... Did I mention the lightning? It looked like a battle from Starwars...

So, let's review the situation. I am five miles from the nearest road... All alone... standing on top of a mountain... In the middle of a Lightning storm... Holding a metal rod..... Is... is this a good thing?

So.... I quickly assess the situation.... More importantly.... How I might avoid getting hit by lightning and getting killed. I came up with these solutions:

Step 1. GET THE *#CK OFF THE TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN!
I don't know what the world speed record is for running down a mountain, but I'm pretty sure I broke it. I ran through grass, bushes, trees, cougars, bears... anything that got in my way I went right through.

Step 2. GET RID OF THAT METAL LIGHTNING ROD!!!!! Which I did while completeing step 1. I threw that think as far as I could as fast as I could as if it were radioactive. I've had that walking stick for 12 years, but, when my life is at stake... See Ya!

Step 3. FIND SHELTER! I have an emergency bivy I cary on every hike (good thing). I broke another world record in setting it up underneath a fallen log, just as the heavy rain, hail and did I mention the lightgning? Started hitting VERY HARD. So, I stayed hunkered down, trying to get as low as possible and making myself as unatractable as possible to lighting strikes, which were happening all around me. The old adrenoline pump was working pretty hard, it was definitely a stressful experience. I kept wondering.... When they found my bones in about five years, would the be able to identify me? Who did I leave my Daytona to?

Anyway, the high winds, thunder and lightning, hail, heavy rain, all passed in about 10 minutes, but it felt like 10 hours....

I swear.... Ignoring the storm clouds, standing on top of a mountain... hiking alone.... NO WONDER I earned President of the Dorklehead club!!!!!


Only me.... These things only happen to me.

[figbo]

Did you get wet?Can I join the dorklehead club?

[RolexWatcher]

I think it was Jocke who said "D O R K L E H E A D.... TURN AROUND!!!!" haha :)

[esm]

Maybe it's Johnny. He made it happen all the way from Scotland

[masterserg]

Lucky! Just googled some lightning rules:

How can I avoid being struck by lightning?

Going indoors during a thunderstorm is by far the best way to avoid lightning. New guidelines recommend taking shelter as soon as you notice thunder arriving less than 30 seconds after a lightning flash. Since it takes five seconds for thunder to travel one mile, the 30-second interval means a flash is less than six miles away. This, in turn, means that the next flash might strike your area soon. Outdoor activities such as baseball or football games should be interrupted for shelter as soon as the 30-second rule is met. (An entire football team of 11 players was killed by a lightning strike in Africa in the fall of 1998.)
Shelter is not failsafe. Lightning can strike though telephones, except for the cellular variety. You should avoid taking showers or standing by windows, screen doors, or patios. To protect household appliances, unplug them before (but not during!) electrical storms.

Outdoors, the idea is to avoid being near--or being--the highest object around. Get away from isolated trees, metal fences, wire clotheslines, and the like, and avoid standing in an exposed area or near water. If you are the tallest thing around, or in a boat on open water, crouch down to reduce your height (but don't lie flat). Lay down metal sports equipment and dismount bicycles. Take especially swift action if your hair stands on end, as that means charged particles are starting to use your body as a pathway. The safest form of vehicle is one with a fully enclosed, all-metal body, which helps to channel electricity around the interior. Make sure the car's windows and doors are completely closed.

Finally, remember that lightning can, and often does, strike the same spot more than once--even the same person. U.S. park ranger Roy Sullivan reportedly was struck seven times between 1942 and 1977

Interesting that it says "crouch but don't lie flat" ... I guess if you do, you are in contact with more ground so you increase your chances ...

[SoftLink]

Originally Posted by masterserg

Interesting that it says "crouch but don't lie flat" ... I guess if you do, you are in contact with more ground so you increase your chances ...

In a way, but mainly it's to avoid being a full body length conductor if the lightning strikes the ground nearby. What seems "better", the full current flowing from big uncle to the heel, or all the way from head to toes? Oh, this also means you should crouch with your feet ideally touching, otherwise you have a nice "bridge" one leg up, crossing over through "sensitive territory", and down the other leg.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by SoftLink

? Oh, this also means you should crouch with your feet ideally touching, otherwise you have a nice "bridge" one leg up, crossing over through "sensitive territory", and down the other leg.

Brother ... I am still shivering at the thought ...

[Lion]

Paul, sounds like you had quite the day out!!!

[TheVTCGuy]

Interesting that it says "crouch but don't lie flat" ... I guess if you do, you are in contact with more ground so you increase your chances ...

Let me verify.... I was curled up in the fetal position.... Probably sucking my thumb and whimpering: "Mommy!!!!! Mommmmmmmeeeeeeee!!!!!!"

[mfer]

Well, it made for an entertaining read.

[GradyPhilpott]

Try one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/SE-Natural-Woo...bxgy_hi_text_b

[STEELINOX]

Next time just call me, I can prolly go too if ya give a day or two notice, weekends are usually good for that

"You're such a 'Dorkus,' Paul"

[Route 66]

Wow Paul, I'm glad that in spite of your dorklehead presidency, you made in down safely.

I'm guessing that this happened late Sunday. My wife and I were at the Hollywood Bowl for a concert and dark clouds moved in with lightning off in the distance. We got a little rain but the best part was that it was followed by a double rainbow afterwards.

[The Joker]

Never hike alone Paul. Did you not see 127 hours?

[Numismatist]

Are you going back to get your metal walking stick?

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Are you going back to get your metal walking stick?

I might... I've had that thing 12 years (seriously). I looked for it after everything calmed down but its thick grass and bush, and I guess in my "fight or flight" adreniline rush I chucked it pretty far.

[dddrees]

Paul, just remember lightening hardly ever strikes in the exact same place twice. So if you were to get hit once, chances are you won't get hit again.

So if you somehow happen to survive the first strike, you should more than likely not have to worry about getting hit a second time.

Although we had absolutely no idea you faced this challenge Paul, I am sure most of us were rooting for you not to get hit a second time.

[Dr.Brian]

Rule #1 of mountaineering. CHECK THE WEATHER!
That comes before check the equipment. If they weather Sux, you don't need 'nothing.
I would have set the walking stick as a lightning rod to try to conceal my profile BTW.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Let me verify.... I was curled up in the fetal position.... Probably sucking my thumb and whimpering: "Mommy!!!!! Mommmmmmmeeeeeeee!!!!!!"

[wdalew5]

Paul brother, you need a woman dude! Imagine the things you could teach her! Lol. Jus kidding.

[rfknauss]

Paul ..... so glad you made it back safely!

[0shet]

Do you have life insurance?

[paddy_crow]

A mountain is the worst place to be in a thunderstorm, no doubt.

I had a very close brush with death myself last week. As I was getting ready to hit the sack Thursday night, I began experiencing some tightness in my chest. It went away, but then came back a little more acute and accompanied by a slight burning in my armpit. I decided right away that it could be angina and I needed to call 911. In the E unit, my EKG was normal. They ran it again at the hospital, still normal, as were my blood enzymes. Chest X-ray also normal. So I was admitted for observation attached to a heart monitor.

About an hour after I got there, apparently I crashed. They tell me I went into ventricular fibrillation (didn't even know what that was a week ago) and had to be resuscitated with CPR and defib (shock). When I regained consciousness, there were about eight people frantically working on me. I was quickly whisked off to the cath lab and had a couple of stents placed in my left anterior descending artery.

It's all a blur to me now. Spent the weekend in cardiac care, discharged Sunday evening. Prognosis is excellent, although I'll probably be on medications for the rest of my life and my casual approach to my diet will have to change. Every now and then it hits me how different the outcome would have been had I not called 911 and tried to sleep it off.

[Dr. Robert]

Paul....get a carbon fiber walking stick!

[Speed]

< Groan >

[kyle L]

Sounds like a good time...

[Michael M.]

Glad you made it Paul!

[swatty]

You really know how to tell a story Paul, glad you got home OK

[TSts]

Trying to be the 'Lightning lord' or the 'Thunder god'? I did such a thing during summertime 20 years ago, drunk, in the ocean steps from our house in Newport Beach. Regret it to this day...

[daunwaun]

Ahhh Jeez Paul!