SJ on the Hancocks 6/9

albee · Jun 9, 2005

That crazy guy - you know... he's like, a Sherpa, and his name is John.... called me with one of them thar newfangled cell phone thingys and told me that his evening attempt at the Hancocks has been aborted due to "the Mother of All Thunderstorms" up there in the North Country, and that his butt is safe and sound in a tent in Crawford Notch Campground.

More News at 11...

sardog1 · Jun 10, 2005

As i was driving northward from the Seacoast last night at 9:30, I saw the "Mother of All Lightning Displays" over the southern reaches of the North Country. It looked like an artillery bombardment and stretched at times right across my northern horizon. The National Weather Service activated the EBS to announce a flash flood warning for Grafton County -- "3-4 inches of rain has fallen in two hours." It was a tough night to be out, and I hope that everyone out there is safe and well away from all streamsides.

Mark_Goodearl · Jun 10, 2005

Lightning!

I'm glad SJ didn't get caught up high! I watched the storm from my home in Meredith - what a display! Didn't see any of the hail that the NOAA radio warned of, thankfully. If you're interested, the AMC's "2005 Mountain Leadership School Handbook" has info on what to do if caught in a lightning storm, see pages 69-72 (it's a 90 page PDF) at http://www.outdoors.org/pdf/upload/2005_MLS _Handbook.pdf

NH_Mtn_Hiker · Jun 10, 2005

I thought of him when I was watching the weather on Channel 9 at about 6:15 last night. I figured he'd abort when he realized "the Mother of All Thunderstorms" was headed his way. Wearing a bikini up a mountain is one thing, wearing burns from lightning is going too far.

Sherpa John · Jun 10, 2005

Holy cow! Wha a display. Steve Smith and I talked today at length about "The mother of all thunderstorms"

I was going to do the Hancocks last night but once I got to Exit 31... NOOOOOOO way in heck. I kept driving over the kanc and went to camp in Crawford notch.

The owners there were gracious enough to let me use the cabin for the night rather than a tent. I was terrified!! Being alone and all. I have camped in Crawford Notch for well over 15 years and I have NEVER seen it storm like that.

We had 3" of rain in 20 Minutes. OUCH!

Check out my trip report from Fridays hike instead... I aborted the Hancocks again!

SJ

PS.. thanks Al for lettin people know for me. I told folks where I was headed and wanted people to know I was ok.

hikerfast · Jun 10, 2005

geez john, i didnt think anything would turn you around!

kerry13 · Jun 13, 2005

SJ, how ironic you stayed at the Crawford Notch Campground. You need to get a copy of "New England's Mountain Madness", by John Ellis Cahill. Story II is called "House of the Willeys" and it describes a mother of all thunderstorms back in 1825 that led to a landslide and the death of the Willey family, who lived in Crawford Notch. Sounds very similar. Had you read this story before, you might have chosen another place to stay. They too lived in a small cabin. I think I may have actually picked up the book in the Crawford Notch Gift Shop.