Are there any special precautions I need to take whilst camping?
by admin on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 | 6 Comments
I’m going camping with some friends next weekend. Last night I had a dream that whilst camping, a terrible, freak thunderstorm struck. What can I bring with me in case this happens?
If lightning strikes the ground anywhere near you, it will travel through the ground and kill you.
take stuff to waterproof all your clothing. they sell specialist bags called canoe bags in outdoor stores, in all sizers. make sure you waterproof your sleeping bag and a spare set of clothes. take bin bags as well for emergency waterproofing. if things get wet its going to be horrible.
dont worry about lightning, it has to be fork lightning to pose a threat and even then it would be very rare.
* the problem with being wet is you can get submersion foot which means blisters, not to mention hypothermia or a very uncomfortable night at the least. The answer below is by a fantasist who thinks he’s bear grylls. It’s a camping weekend. Have fun, take lots of nice food, don’t worry about lightning, and waterproof your kit. You will be fine.
Don’t camp on top of a mountain and you won’t be struck
Don’t camp under or real close, to TALL trees
If lightning is your fear, then follow some preventative measures:
Tips to avoid being struck
When you’re out enjoying any of the countless trails here in Summit County and a thunderstorm happens to roll in, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of getting in the path of a lightning strike:
1. Prevention. In the summertime, mountainous regions like Summit County are infamous for mid-late afternoon thunderstorms. Check weather predictions and consider starting your trek early to minimize possible exposure.
2. Prediction. Thunder travels about 1 mile in just under 5 seconds. Counting the time difference between flash and bang can help indicate the distance away from you. Generally speaking, when a storm rolls within 6 miles (30 seconds between flash and thunder), it’s time to find safe shelter.
3. Protection. Put yourself in a safe place with respect to the terrain. Peaks and ridges are not great places to be if you suspect a lightning strike, nor is on/near standing water. Look for dry ravines or a low spot in rolling hills. If you are in a forest with trees of the same size, you’re generally safer than near trees out in the open, but you should avoid hunkering down right next to a tree.
4. Position. If you do get caught out in the open, crouch on something that provides insulation between you and the ground (like a foam sleeping pad). If you are traveling with a group, its best to spread out a bit from the others if possible. This helps ensure that if there is an injury from a lightning strike, there will be others who can respond.
5. Patience. Lightning can still strike well after a storm has rolled through, so it’s a good idea to wait about 30 minutes after the last flash-bang before assuming you’re safe to move again.
Stay off of Fourteeners. There is a memorial plaque to a young woman who was killed on Mount Princeton near the summit.
The good news is that lightning can kill you in your house as well as in your tent. More good news is that you are far more likely to die in your automobile on your trip to the campground than in your tent while camping. The numbers are approximately 1:100 for death by automobile and 1:4,000,000 for death by lightning
I see no problem with getting wet but the lightning strike seems bazaar.
What I’d do.
ITEMS: Shovel, Area with Dirt, Wire (Optional), large metal object (Knife possibly), muscles to dig, two medium tarps, or one large one.
1. I usually pack a shovel of some sort, a knife, and otherwise. Dig a hole big enough for yourself to be inside of.
2. Dig two small holes in the tunnel as drainage holes, big enough to hold your feet inside, these will be essential.
3. Put the dirt moved around the hole of the hole, try to make it so the inside is flat but the outside is going down like a hill.
4. Dig four holes around your hole, how deep? Well, how much does it rain on those big rainy days? If it is like here I’d dig four holes at about a quarter-meter thick (Metere, Metre if you spell it different). Put the dirt aside.
5. Dig a small exit tunnel diagonal from yours, DO NOT puncture into yours yet.
6. Gather a log or wood to tie together, puncture into yours and put up wooden supports.
7. Take a log or wood tied together, point it upwards around 3 meters (Metere, Metre) from your exit tunnel.
8. Dig a hole around where you will place this log, dig deeper in the center than around it. Then, make holes that go lower from a few of your drainage pits to your log pit.
9. Place the log facing upwards in the center of that pit.
10. Take a knife and tie it down to the log, the lightning (If any) will strike a higher-object most likely and transfer to the knife, to the log, and to the water, and to the dirt.
11. Take two tarps, cover yours from outside and secure with heavy rocks. As you slide into that exit hole, cover it up as best you can, if you can’t do it well, pin down two sides with heavy rocks and then pin one of the bottom corners by reaching your hand out of one corner, and placing a rock on the opposing corner.
Congrats, allot of hard work have now made you a lighting-proof shelter that can’t get rained in.
This is how I would do it to survive in the wild in heavy rain, the pools would be cleaner than the lake/stream/river water so you could boil and drink if you are going all-wild nature. It also serves as a good shooting position in war, you can pop out of the tunnel and open fire on anyone coming near. Great for airsoft/paintball battles.
That’s the tactical method, for a normal method with a tent use is steps #7-11.
hope this helps!