LIGHTNING, POOR POSITION Colorado, Rocky Mountain National ...
LIGHTNING, POOR POSITION Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park, Longs Peak O n A ugust 24, 1991, at 1500, T im F in n eg an was struck by lightning w hile clim bing th e T e e te r T o o te r Pillar on Longs Peak. T h e lightning b o lt stru ck above th e m , trav eled dow n th e crack system th ey w ere clim bing, e n te re d F in n eg a n ’s u p p e r b ack an d exited th ro u g h his right foot. H e sustained tw o bu rn s th e size o f a silver dollar b u t d id not lose consciousness. P a rtn e r M ike G ru b e r ex p e rien c ed som e g ro u n d effec t from th e lightning strike b u t did n o t sustain injury. F in n eg an an d G ru b e r d ec id e d to avoid th e Longs P eak sum m it by exiting th e peak via th e to p o f th e N o rth C o u lo ir an d dow n K ep linger’s C ouloir into W ild Basin. A t 2303, F in n e g a n an d G ru b e r te le p h o n e d p a rk d isp a tc h fro m th e W ild B asin L odge o utside o f p ark boundaries. T h ey re q u e ste d a ride from p ark ran g ers back to th e ir vehicle at Longs P eak parking lot. T hey w ere rec o n tac ted by a p ark ran g e r w ho realized th a t F in n eg an should seek m edical atten tio n and receive a ride in an a m b u lance d u e to th e u n p red ic tab le behaviorism s o f lightning injuries. T h e ran g e r offered F in n eg an an d G ru b e r his services as an em ergency m edical technician, an d an am bu-
lance, both of which were refused. Finnegan was later admitted and kept overnight at Estes Park Medical Center, where he was treated for superficial burns.
Analysis Summer lightning storms are quite common and violent in the Rockies. The best strat egy for surviving lightning storms is to avoid them through careful planning. This entails planning to leave for the climb at an unattractively early hour (predawn), and picking a route where it is possible for the clim ber to summit and be descending before the storms hit. Lightning storms are regular events; if one occurred at 1500 today, there will probably be one at 1500 tomorrow. There may be tips on what to do if caught in a lightning storm. Prevention is the best cure. According to the United States W eather Bureau, there are over 40 days with one or more thunderstorms in June, July, and August in the Central Rockies. At Rocky Mountain National Park in 1991, there were two other lightning incidents in addition to the Finnegan incident. A female clim ber on the Book at Lumpy Ridge received minor burns, and a female tourist on Trail Ridge Road was severely injured, requiring C PR and advanced life support. (Source: Jim Detterline, Ranger, RMNP)
lance, both of which were refused. Finnegan was later admitted and kept overnight at Estes Park Medical Center, where he was treated for superficial burns.
Analysis Summer lightning storms are quite common and violent in the Rockies. The best strat egy for surviving lightning storms is to avoid them through careful planning. This entails planning to leave for the climb at an unattractively early hour (predawn), and picking a route where it is possible for the clim ber to summit and be descending before the storms hit. Lightning storms are regular events; if one occurred at 1500 today, there will probably be one at 1500 tomorrow. There may be tips on what to do if caught in a lightning storm. Prevention is the best cure. According to the United States W eather Bureau, there are over 40 days with one or more thunderstorms in June, July, and August in the Central Rockies. At Rocky Mountain National Park in 1991, there were two other lightning incidents in addition to the Finnegan incident. A female clim ber on the Book at Lumpy Ridge received minor burns, and a female tourist on Trail Ridge Road was severely injured, requiring C PR and advanced life support. (Source: Jim Detterline, Ranger, RMNP)
