JACKSON, Wyo. — On Tuesday, a backpacker was struck and killed by lightning in the Teton Wilderness. The incident has been called a “random accident” by Teton County Search and Rescue.
The agency recently released more information and tips for what to do when in the backcountry during a lightning storm.
“You’re not alone if the lightning incident at Enos Lake this week has instilled an elevated sense of fear of thunderstorms in the backcountry,” TCSAR said this afternoon via their blog. “According to preliminary reports, the group had shelters spread across an equitable distance, located in a low-lying area of terrain, and among evenly height trees and shrubs.”
The victim was part of a 14-person backpacking trip, through the National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS.
According to the National Lightning Safety Insitute, the frequency of lightning increases in the lower latitudes—closer to the equator, and in the higher altitudes—mountainous terrain. In the USA, central Florida experiences some 10-15 lightning strikes per sq. km./yr. The Rocky Mountain west has about two-thirds this activity. Central Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, and the Latin American mountain regions can experience two to three times as much lightning as central Florida.”
The institute’s lightning safety tips:
AVOID: Avoid water, metallic objects, the high ground and solitary tall trees. Avoid close contact with others – spread out 15-20 ft. apart. Avoid contact with dissimilar objects (water & land; boat & land; rock & ground; tree & ground). Avoid open spaces.
SEEK: Seek clumps of shrubs or trees of uniform height. Seek ditches, trenches or the low ground. Seek a low, crouching position with feet together with hands on ears to minimize acoustic shock from thunder.
KEEP: Keep a high level of safety awareness for thirty minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder.
“Treat lightning like a snake: if you see it or hear it, take evasive measures,” says the National Lightning Safety Institute.
