Appalachian Trail Stories - Fact or Fiction #4

Who would have thought that walking exposed on top of a mountain carrying metal poles and a metal framed backpack during a thunderstorm would be so dangerous?

There are

a few schools of thought on what to do when a storm creeps up on you and most of them are contradictory. 

One book says to keep hiking and find the nearest shelter the biggest threat will be from falling trees.

Another source says hunker down in a grove of trees that are smaller than the other ones around it.

and yet another source says lightning can hit you from 5 miles away and you should crouch with your feet together.  

Well I think I will try them all and see which one works best.