Re: [Paddlewise] Anyone understand lightning?

The 'ground up' aspect of lightening has to do with a channel of charged
particles/electrons paving the way, so to speak, before the actual strike.
Lightening seeks electrical ground through the quickest path of least
resistance. Lightening 'fractures' to seek several channels of 'ground'.
Lightening 'bounces', 'reflects', 'deflects'.  Direct, full-impact strikes
on people are rarer than reflected and ground-channel strikes. A direct
strike kills. Indirect and ground channel strikes can range from relative
'mild' knock downs, to deadly.  In between are a host of very nasty and
unpleasant conditions including severe cardio arrhythmia, neurological
dysfunction, electrical 'amputation' of fingers and toes, severe burns (some
of which produce a 'lace tattoo'), etc.

When you read about a group of people being 'struck', this is usually a case
of ground channel mixed with reflective strike from nearby object....a
softball team gets nailed when the light tower in center field takes a
direct hit...etc.

Those who hike/climb in the mountains often find their religion during
intense lightening storms.  The strategy when there is no place to hide is
to disperse the group (so that some will likely survive and be able to treat
the victims), squat (w/o touching your hands to the ground) atop a coil of
rope or some meager insulating material, and hope for the best.

The 'Cone of Safety' theory has many supporters. The idea is to position
yourself within and along the outer circumference of a 'cone' drawn from the
top of a nearby object, and out from its base...the thinking being that you
are close enough that the taller object draws the direct & indirect strikes,
but far enough to avoid reflective strike and ground-fault contact.
I believe Hutchison's Expedition Kayaking book offers a kayak rig along this
same set of principles.  Not something I'd be interested in testing anytime
soon.

-Will


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