Hiker killed by lightning on Cabin Loop yesterday

[chumley]

The storm that a few have reported on in triplogs here took the life of a 24-year old female hiking in a group of 8 people.

They sheltered under trees, and the tree was struck. Several of the group were injured.

Read more details:
( dead link removed )
http://www.azfamily.com/story/29427036/ ... gollon-rim
( dead link removed )

[BEEBEE]

I was not far from this with my Amateur Radio Club. We were talking with a Ranger when he got the radio call. The storms on the Rim Saturday were wicked.

[The_Eagle]

Worth repeating from the Fox Report

Lightning: What You Need to Know
• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder
Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips
If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:
• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Never shelter under an isolated tree
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

[JasonCleghorn]

The storm that a few have reported on in triplogs here took the life of a 24-year old female hiking in a group of 8 people.

They sheltered under trees, and the tree was struck. Several of the group were injured.

Read more details:

Until I knew when my family was for sure moving here, I had considered going on this trip. Gulp...

Sad.

[whereveriroam]

Its sad too hear about the fatality of someone so young, especially engaging in a past time I enjoy. The critically injured guy who was flown out is a HAZ member, he goes by Poochie on here.

[big_load]

The critically injured guy who was flown out is a HAZ member, he goes by Poochie on here.

My condolences go out to the families, and I hope the injured recover fully.

One of Poochie's goals was getting new people out on the trail. It can be especially hard on an inexperienced group when a leader goes down.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

Is it me noticing, the season, or more coverage this summer? Just seems like higher than usual lightning related fatalities.

( dead link removed )

[trekkin_gecko]

2015 fatalities:

( dead link removed )

[Orange]

It's been a crazy, crazy ride, and in short - an absolutely horrible, experience. I ended up being conscious the entire time, from the moment I was struck, to the moment I finally stopped seizing in Flagstaff Medical Center's trauma room 6 1/2 hours later.

The physical symptoms, are well-managed with the medications I'm on. Unfortunately, they've also had me on a blood thinner for the blood clots in either arm. The blood-thinner is the main reason I haven't really been able to get out on the trail and back into the wild. I just can't risk bleeding-out in the wild, or a pulmonary embolism if the clots were to break up. It's been driving me crazy something fierce. I have

The mental aspects, of going through something like that, of having lost a member in our backpacking group, of having been trapped in my body for hours with absolutely indescribable pain, of hearing a pair of first responders say "I don't think he's going to make it", etc., etc... there's a lot going on there.

All of that aside, I think I'm ready...for a little something at least. I'm going to go lay some flowers and we're supposed to go and camp right at/around the site where all of this happened. We're going to car-camp, so it should be easy enough to enjoy - we'll see how things go.

[outdoor_lover]

I can only Imagine the Long Road you're Travelling, but I'm glad you're still with us Poochie....

[big_load]

@Poochie

Welcome back! It sounds like an awful experience, and the current restrictions must be very frustrating. I hope you keep improving and are able to get out on your own terms before long.

[azbackpackr]

Everything everyone else said up the thread, AND keep posting here, we'll keep you company. Best of luck during your recovery.

[Orange]

8 weeks later...I return to the woods. Going camping up at near where all this happened tomorrow. Should be good. Just had this all laying around...still packed ever. Crazy. https://goo.gl/photos/VixftagHHZUGUsvC7

[whereveriroam]

8 weeks later...I return to the woods.

Good too hear that your going back out.

[Orange]

10 weeks and 3 days ago today, I lay there dying on the forest floor.

Today, 73 days after the strike, I had my follow up ultrasound. No, no...I wasn't preggers, rather the lightning caused blood clots in either one of my arms. I had been on the blood thinner for the full 73 days now, and this is what has really been holding me back and preventing me from getting back into the wild.

Anyways, I received incredible news. For all intents and purposes, I'm healed (physically anyways). The blood clots are gone and I have stopped taking the Xarelto immediately.

I can't wait to get back into the wild...so much so that I have already planned my first trip back out. We're going to do East Eagle Creek to Sawmill Cabin. Looks like a good spot anyways.

[autumnstars]

@Poochie

Good news! Hope your first hike out goes well and you continue to recover.

[big_load]

I'm glad you're past that hurdle!

[outdoor_lover]

Eagle Creek will be Awesome! If you haven't done it, you'll love it....So glad to hear that things are going well for you now....

[Orange]

Thank you for the wishes guys...that's the stuff that got me through all of this in the first place.

@Outdoor Lover - I haven't done this one yet.Glad to hear I picked a winner! I kind of found it by accident on the topos but once I saw it, I really honed in on it. I was surprised there weren't many trip-logs at all for the area...weird. Anyways, I figured this would be a really decent time of year to get there and do it, plus that cabin looks really sweet. I definitely want to check that out. Not only that, but the elevation profile really appeals to me for my first trip back out - I don't want to overdo it. Not yet...

The trip is also going to be great because the boyfriend of the girl who was killed that day, who had to watch her untimely passage, well he is going on this trip too. He had joined the group on his own a short time ago because he knew he had to get back out there. He knew he had to do the things he still enjoys, even if Christine is no longer here. Anyways, it is his first trip back out too...so it will be good. I think this trip is going to be really good.

[JasonCleghorn]

Thank you for the wishes guys...that's the stuff that got me through all of this in the first place.

@Outdoor Lover - I haven't done this one yet.Glad to hear I picked a winner! I kind of found it by accident on the topos but once I saw it, I really honed in on it. I was surprised there weren't many trip-logs at all for the area...weird. Anyways, I figured this would be a really decent time of year to get there and do it, plus that cabin looks really sweet. I definitely want to check that out. Not only that, but the elevation profile really appeals to me for my first trip back out - I don't want to overdo it. Not yet...

The trip is also going to be great because the boyfriend of the girl who was killed that day, who had to watch her untimely passage, well he is going on this trip too. He had joined the group on his own a short time ago because he knew he had to get back out there. He knew he had to do the things he still enjoys, even if Christine is no longer here. Anyways, it is his first trip back out too...so it will be good. I think this trip is going to be really good.

Your last paragraph is deeply touching and a testament to you as a person...