Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Thunder and Lightning

We are hiking Whitney on July 19th. Has anyone experienced any Summer rain yet? Thunder and lightning? I have been checking th e webcam everyday, and haven't noticed any afternoon clouds. Hopefully this type of weather will come late this year.

Dennis reported a cell over Whitney yesterday (5-6pm), increasing chance of TS as the week progresses.

http://www.easternsierraforecast.com/

There was some significant afternoon buildup over the Great Western Divide this past weekend, but I didn't hear/see any storm production.

Be aware of what's happening when you're up high, and don't underestimate the speed of the storms. Good luck.

My wife and I were up there two years ago (07-17-08).

Rain, snow, graupel, sleet, thunder, lightning, windy, cold, mud, slop, slip-n-slide on the SB going down.

Nun in a hobbit coming up as we were going down. Divine Intervention...I KID YOU NOT!

Quite a hike but we had fun and lived to tell about it.

Hopefully, you will have clear skies!

Have fun.

Must've been a really small nun.

A nun and a hobbit?

Oops! Goes to show my ignorance to the religious sects of our world.

Habit. Too many Starbucks! Maybe AMS on the backside.

Have fun.

Did they stop at Trail Crest for second breakfast?

Another good reason for an early start.

Took the words right out of my mouth Laura. Made me think of whataboutsecondbreakfast, who was here a couple of months ago - from Canada, I believe. One of the best screen names I've ever seen.

"Nun in a hobbit coming up as we were going down"

I went to Catholic school and there was only one nun I would have considered. And yes, the statement does ......well, I better stop.

As far as lightning. When I was there last year, it was black and rainy with lots of lightning on Whitney on a Friday before my Monday hike. Clear blue skies and absolutely no clouds when I went, so the weather changes fast. Just use your head. Two things I don't like....lightning and bears.

Second Breakfast? Hmmm...I don't know. We met the group with the nun just about a 1/2 mile from Trail Crest. I think I smelt bacon!

BTW, this nun was NOT wearing boots or tennis shoes, but wearing the shoes you wear with the habit. Unbelievable and INCREDIBLE!

I am glad I brought a chuckle to some. I showed my wife this thread and she just busted a gut!

Anyhoooo...back to the topic at hand...where were we? Oh, "Lightning from the Sky...Thunder from the Sea"...Wait! That's a 1st ANGLICO motto. Regression...Quick, out of USMC mode...there...thunder and lightning...

Generally, you see clouds forming during the afternoon after 1:00 p.m. Hence, why my cutoff time is 1:00 p.m.

Beware of "puffy clouds" -- cumulus clouds -- can turn into cumulonimbus -- thunderheads. A lot of convection occurs in Owens Valley.

Keep a link on dmatt's forecast for the Eastern Sierra. Sign up for his email updates.

Have fun.

A few years ago I was coming off Cottonwood Pass and ran into a nun - not dressed in full nun garb, but more casual. She had brought her parents back to the Sierra for a final visit - her father was in his 80's and quite ill but wanted to return once more to the site of so many of the wonderful memories of his earlier life. He made it into the switchbacks and was blissfully napping when I passed him. The nun said he was a very happy, contented man. It was a very moving experience.

Is trail camp relatively safe from lightning overnight in aluminum pole tents?

No.