I finally got caught in a lightning storm on the trail near Mt. Whitney last June

Halfway up the switchbacks I had to ditch my aluminum poles and crouch under a boulder while thunder cracked right above me, now I'm torn between carrying a lightweight umbrella for sun vs. a proper emergency shelter that adds extra weight. Do you lean toward ultralight gear that's useless in bad weather or do you pack for the worst case even if it slows you down?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.luna17d ago

That lightning storm near Mt. Whitney sounds terrifying. I got caught in a similar one on the Long Trail in Vermont three years ago. Had to ditch my poles too, felt like a sitting duck out in the open. Honestly, I now pack a tiny emergency bivy sack. It weighs almost nothing, around 5 ounces, and it gives me peace of mind. Especially after that storm, I'd rather carry an extra few ounces than risk being completely exposed again.

maryr4317d ago

Oh man, that sounds intense! I totally get the struggle between weight and safety. Last summer I was hiking in the Sierras and thought I was being smart with a super light tarp, but a sudden hailstorm turned it into a wet rag that was useless. Now I carry a heavier silnylon shelter that takes a bit more space but actually works, @carr.luna has the right idea with that bivy sack. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather be a little slower on the trail than shivering under a soaked tarp again.

fionanguyen17d ago

You said you'd "rather be a little slower on the trail than shivering under a soaked tarp" - how much slower are we talking here? Like, did swapping to that silnylon shelter add a whole pound or just a few ounces to your pack? I'm trying to figure out where that cutoff is for you, because sometimes an extra half-pound feels like a lot when you're climbing a pass.