I have always had a healthy respect for lightning so I begin a count after the sound of thunder so as to calculate how far away it is.  If within a mile I leave the golf course or lake or anywhere outside taking cover as soon as I can.  So when the following happened to me, I had to add to my safety procedures concerning lightning:

About 20 years ago, I was picking green beans in my garden at the highest point on our property.  The green bean poles were staked almost up to a very large sweet gum tree (70') at the edge of the garden.  When I started picking in the garden around one o'clock in the afternoon, the skies were blue with not a single cloud in sight.  Later the wind kicked up a bit and a wispy white cloud formed up right above me.  A few minutes later, the hair on the back of my neck stood out like there was static electricity somewhere.  I looked up immediately to see about the cloud which had now gotten bigger with a gray bottom.  I didn't think it looked that bad but I was somewhat alarmed so I decided to quickly finish picking then go to the house.  Soon the wind kicked up even more.  The cloud had gotten larger.  A few minutes later every hair on my body stood out!  I immediately grabbed my bucket of beans and "sprinted" to the garage (about 50 yards - Coach Carr would have laughed at me running in unlaced boots with a bucket bouncing everywhere - I think it took 10 seconds to cover the distance).   As I got to the garage, I turned back to see an angry ominous large black-bottomed cloud above the tree but no rain yet.  Then a lightning bolt that just about blinded me struck the afore mentioned sweet gum tree then a heavy rain began.  After it finished with more rain and more lightning, I went out to the sweet gum to see a huge bolt path (like Johnny Gongre's) from as far as I could see up the tree down to the ground.  There were pieces of bark thrown from the trunk that were smoking.  There were places on the ground smoking up to 10' from the tree, including where I had been standing - these were where the roots were.  Had I been standing where I was when I bolted, I doubt if I would have made it.  You do not want to be the only one in the neighborhood who is unable to start a count because you are lifeless on the ground.  Also you do not want to be the one whose count was 0.0001.

The point to this is:  If you are ever outside, maybe even with your grandkids, and some of the hair on your body stands out, go to cover at once because this could be the first or perhaps last warning.  The first strike of lightning might be right where you are.  If you are out with your grandkids, get them to cover immediately.   Do not wait like I did.   I just about made a fatal mistake by not heeding the first warning with only neck hair standing out.  Soon after I cut the tree down with my chain saw but still marked where it was so I would know not to be there for the next time - so far that location has not been struck again but our house has been struck along with several other trees near it.

BILL

PLEASE REFER TO MY PROFILE. I HAVE TWO PICTURES OF A TREE IN MY FRONT YARD. MARGIE AND I WERE IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE LIGHTING STRUCK OUR TREE. ONE PICTURE BEFORE THE STRIKE AND ONE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE STRIKE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. THIS IS THE CHAMPION WILLOW OAK TREE IN A 25 COUNTY AREA.

JOHNNY

Johnny-

Before the reunion I had read your account of a lightning strike at your house.  That is what made me think about sharing my story with everyone.  The point is, of course, that the first strike has to happen somewhere and it might be exactly where you are at the time.  To repeat: If you feel any static electricity or in any way feel uncomfortable with the weather, seek shelter immediately.  Had I stayed 10 seconds longer by the tree mentioned, I do not think I would have been around for the reunion.

Bill

In reading up on do's and don'ts, of long distance hiking I've read that lightening is the greatest danger to hikers, more so than snakes, bears, and miscreants.

Have also read/heard that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to be struck by the lightening.