If there is one thing that can scare the pants off you in the backcountry it's thunderstorms. I have had some pretty hairy moments in Scotland, the Lake District but mainly in the USA. Most notable moments in the USA were around the flat lands of Wyoming and along the PCT around Crater Lake. You guy's get some serious weather!

We all know that even the most foolhardy hiker can be sent running down a mountain in a thunderstorm. But what is a thunderstorm and where does a lightning strike come from? Degree level physicists may remember the following points explained in this article.

One fact you may find rather cool is that at the point of a strike, lightning moves up the 'channel' at 200 000 000 miles an hour! Not much point trying to outrun this one lads. Unfortunately this cow found out the hard way.

My silly 'Lightning' You tube video with blackened tree behind.

Apparently if you get struck and survive there is a high chance you may get hit again! See some interesting stuff in this article