Hiking in lightning: myth versus method

Much of what we know about hiking in lightning is myth. Here, we share the actual methods that will keep you safe in a storm

There are certain safety rules that we all learn in childhood. Never talk to strangers. Get low in a fire. Stand under a tree in lightning. In adulthood, few of us think to question these rules. In most cases, that’s perfectly fine, but when it comes to hiking in lightning, we’re long overdue for a rethink.

In Britain alone, lightning strikes the ground 300,000 times a year. It injures 30-60 people per year and kills three on average, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). In the US, lightning kills an average of 28 people a year, according to the CDC. 

Among those most vulnerable are hill walkers, rock climbers and campers. Interestingly, 80% of lightning strike victims are male – a likely correlation to the higher percentage of men who either work outdoors or spend their leisure time outside. 

Those who may find themselves hiking in lightning should understand the three main ways in which lightning might strike.

• Direct strike: the lightning hits you and travels to the earth through you
• Side flash: the lightning hits a nearby object and jumps sideways to hit you
• Ground strike: the lightning strikes the ground and travels through it, hitting you en route

Hiking in lightning: myths and methods

It’s important to understand the myths and methods of hiking in lightning. Below, we share the latest guidance from RoSPA and the CDC.

Myth: Shelter under a tree

Lightning is attracted to the tallest thing in the landscape so, on the face of it, it makes sense to shelter under a tree, the logic being that lightning will strike the tree rather than the human beneath it. However, this can be more dangerous than standing out in the open. 

Direct strikes only account for around 5% of lightning-related injuries whereas ground strikes account for around 50%. As such, you are more likely to suffer a ground strike via a tall tree than a direct strike standing out in the open. In fact, an estimated one in four people who are struck by lightning are sheltering under a tree at the time. 

If you are in a forest or heavily wooded area, shelter under a cluster of trees of similar height rather than a tall, isolated tree.