BWCA Quetico Campers have close call with lightning Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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07/27/2020 05:31PM  
 
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07/27/2020 05:48PM  
Wow that is scary stuff. Glad they’re ok.
 
Minnesotian
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07/27/2020 06:13PM  

Wow is right. Glad they stayed safe and that was some excellent planning on their part.
 
07/27/2020 06:35PM  
Wow, close call!
 
07/27/2020 07:06PM  
What a story--very high pucker factor. Glad all are safe--gear is easily replaced, and hopefully the headaches and ringing ears cleared quickly.

TZ
 
airmorse
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07/27/2020 07:16PM  
Wow. They were lucky.
 
07/27/2020 07:28PM  
I’m find it interesting that the headlamps briefly went out. Would not have expected that, even with a close strike. Also fascinating about the current passing through the tent poles but I guess it makes sense - aluminum poles are probably more conductive than the ground or tree roots. Glad they are ok, and glad they are going to go back out there.
 
cyclones30
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07/27/2020 07:59PM  
Yeah that's close! We were fishing in MN out of a cabin that we rent every spring and this June my brother and I were in one boat early in the morning and my uncle and his son in our other boat. We were both walleye fishing about a half mile from the dock and you could hear the rumbles getting closer from a storm. My brother and I packed up and went in when we saw the first flash in the distance. The others decided to stay out longer....they came back in maybe a half hour behind us and said they think they were close to getting struck.

They were trolling lindy rigs and my uncles drag on his spinning reel started spinning. But nothing was on the end of his line, no fish no snag...nothing. They both reeled up quick and said we need to get out of here. It was still spinning after he reeled up and set it in the boat, and he got shocked when he hooked his hook on the hook keeper. Needless to say, they now come in much sooner when there's thunder or lightning around. No thanks...that was a little too close.
 
07/28/2020 06:50AM  
We had a lightning strike 4 houses away from me a couple weeks ago and I heard that sizzle sound that they talk about.

It's very unsettling to know that could happen to any of us in canoe country. I will definitely put my dog on a leash when a thunderstorm rolls in. There's been stories of dogs bolting into the woods out of fear and not coming back.
 
07/28/2020 08:38AM  
Jaywalker: "I’m find it interesting that the headlamps briefly went out. Would not have expected that, even with a close strike. Also fascinating about the current passing through the tent poles but I guess it makes sense - aluminum poles are probably more conductive than the ground or tree roots. Glad they are ok, and glad they are going to go back out there. "


It was the electromagnetic pulse or B field created as the electricity ran through the conductors (tent poles, roots, etc.). The headache issue was a bit puzzling but I'm sure it's a side effect from being near all of that high voltage current (and high amperage!). I'm glad that the family is safe and that they knew what to do to prepare.
 
MikeinMpls
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07/28/2020 09:20AM  
This is scary. It reminds me that I simply don't know enough about electrical storm safety, and that I need to "brush-up" on this prior to my next trip. I've been in many storms over the decades, but I've never had a close call like this.

Thanks for posting.

Mike
 
07/28/2020 09:32AM  
MikeinMpls: "This is scary. It reminds me that I simply don't know enough about electrical storm safety, and that I need to "brush-up" on this prior to my next trip. I've been in many storms over the decades, but I've never had a close call like this.


Thanks for posting.


Mike"
Yes safty questions how to act during a electrical storm? What kind of ground to stand on? Is rock a no no? Get on top of your mattress?
 
MikeinMpls
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07/28/2020 10:09AM  
Pinetree: "
MikeinMpls: "This is scary. It reminds me that I simply don't know enough about electrical storm safety, and that I need to "brush-up" on this prior to my next trip. I've been in many storms over the decades, but I've never had a close call like this.



Thanks for posting.



Mike"
Yes safty questions how to act during a electrical storm? What kind of ground to stand on? Is rock a no no? Get on top of your mattress?"


Exactly! Though I likely won't go up again this year, I will study this in depth prior to my 2021 trips (or later if "Amateur Hour in the BWCA" is still going on.)

Mike
 
arm2008
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07/28/2020 10:43AM  
Jaywalker: "I’m find it interesting that the headlamps briefly went out. "


Had lightning strike about 15' outside my window one night, blowing apart the arm of a wooden swing hanging there. It reset my battery operated alarm clock that was near the wall. Continued to work fine after the time was reset. I didn't get back to sleep for a few hours.
 
07/28/2020 02:05PM  
MikeinMpls: "This is scary. It reminds me that I simply don't know enough about electrical storm safety, and that I need to "brush-up" on this prior to my next trip. I've been in many storms over the decades, but I've never had a close call like this.


Thanks for posting.


Mike"


There’s lots of abbreviated pages with helpful hints, but for such things I like to turn to NOLS as the authoritative source. NOLS Backcountry Lightning Safety
 
yellowcanoe
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07/28/2020 02:18PM  
roots are scary!
 
missmolly
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07/28/2020 02:20PM  
arm2008: "
Jaywalker: "I’m find it interesting that the headlamps briefly went out. "



Had lightening strike about 15' outside my window one night, blowing apart the arm of a wooden swing hanging there. It reset my battery operated alarm clock that was near the wall. Continued to work fine after the time was reset. I didn't get back to sleep for a few hours. "


I had it melt the guy lines of my tent once. It sure does different things, doesn't it?
 
07/28/2020 03:41PM  
yellowcanoe: "roots are scary! "

Yes, but what's really scary is that your legs conduct electricity better than the roots, and are therefore the path of least resistance for the current!
 
Podunk
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07/28/2020 05:24PM  
A buddy of mine had a strike in his yard a few years back. Ran up the water coming out of his downspout, burning the tops off the grass, went up the downspout kinda spot welding it together. Blew the dryer vent off the house and burnt all of the landline phone jacks. Also had a coworker on a headset attached to a airliner when if got hit get knocked to the ground. Lightning is nothing to mess with. These guys did a excellent job in taking cover.

 
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