How to Avoid a Lightning Storm in the Backcountry

The most important thing you can do to mitigate risk from a lightning storm is the timing of your travel in the backcountry. The biggest mistake I see hikers make is that they don't get over and out of the high country before storms start building. You absolutely need to understand prevailing weather patterns and avoid high risk lightning areas like passes peaks and ridges when a storm is nearby. It's not about holding up in your tent or a cave. It is not about crouching with your feet together on a sleeping pad. And we'll talk about all these things.