Should I Hike This Exposed Mesa During a Thunderstorm?

It was the last day of July, and I had already hiked 340 miles of the 485-mile Colorado Trail. I hadn't showered or seen my boyfriend in two weeks and was planning to meet him at Spring Creek Pass, nearly 19 miles away. Unfortunately, I got a late start.

I did the math and realized I would reach the notoriously flat and exposed Snow Mesa in the early afternoon, when thunderstorms were likely.

After nine miles, I dipped below the treeline, the last sheltered area of the day. My gut knew better, but the lure of a hot shower, a cold beer, and my boyfriend led me to push on.

I reached Snow Mesa, alone and scared. A flash of lightning connected to the nearby horizon, and my metal gear started to hum. I tossed my poles as far as I could.

I hid in a gully, willing myself to be smaller. After the deluge ran its course, I slowly emerged, legs stiff and leaden, humbled and thankful to be alive.

This article appeared in the May/June 2020 edition with the headline "Trust Your Gut."

Ask the Expert

Michael Le Desma is a chair of the Sierra Club's Inspiring Connections Outdoors program.

"Your risk of injury is compounded by clouded judgment (for example, when blood sugar is low), being in a hurry, and exposure to systemic energy such as moving water or lightning. When all three factors are present, like in this scenario, you court serious injury or death."