SSSdave wrote:Remember those threads about a month ago about backpacking weather in October? A few of us tossed out sober warnings? Well I'm betting a few will be caught out in current foulness this first week of October wearing shorts and t-shirts after starting out during the warm weather of last week. This is how it happens.
Shortly after my return from my 5-day solo up to Ten Lakes in mid-September I began planning a 3-dayer up to Kibbie Lakes for the first week in October. It's an easy trip for me because it's real close to our home in the mountains. In and out, two nights, three days.
So, the last week in September I checked with weather.com's 10-day forecast for that area and saw that there were supposed to be scattered thunderstorms beginning Wednesday, Oct. 6, which was right in the middle of when I wanted to be up there. So, I decided right then and there to forget about that particular outing.
Then, on Saturday, Oct. 2, we had some serious clouding up at home, and by nighttime we were in the middle of one of the most spectacular thunder/lightning storms I've ever been in. The weather people were a little off on the start of the storm, but not the severity.
We live in the mountains at 3,400 feet about 30 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance to YNP, so our weather is a good indication of what it will be like higher up. It looked real ugly.
As the weather closed in here at home, and I could see the massive thunder cloud buildup over the Clark Range, I was praying that nobody was going to get caught out in that mess at higher elevation. There are very few things that scare me. But, lightning is real high on the list.
It will be interesting to hear reports as anybody who was out there comes back in.
Dave