Sunshine Peak Trip Report 09/10/2014

Peak(s):	Sunshine Peak - 14,004 feet Redcloud Peak - 14,037 feet
Date Posted:	09/10/2014
Date Climbed:	09/08/2014
Author:	rideadeuce

Sunshine Peak w/unexpected summit event
Sunshine Peak SHOCK! - Graupel brought electric charge to summit My climbing partner and I were about 25 ft from summiting Sunshine Peak when a sudden, windy graupel dusting created a strong static electricity charge on the peak that shocked us both repeatedly on the apex of our heads and ran down both arms. We both descended immediately in shear panic of a lightning strike. The shocks continued until we descended to flat terrain and started traversing the saddle back toward Redcloud. Anyone ever experienced this before? It took us both a second to realize what was happening because it coincided with the strongest portion of the graupel-fall and summiting. I initially was trying to differentiate the stimuli from the pelting of the graupel and what sounded like it could have been an insect in my hoody. All those thought processes ended immediately when I saw my climbing partner, experiencing the same thing, start to run down the mountain past me. Second-guessing ourselves we wish we had descended before the precipitation but it was a beautiful day until traversing between Redcloud and Sunshine and then it was pretty much just overcast weather with no thunder, lightning or ominous clouds. Feeling very lucky to have experienced the incident without a lightning strike. Again, anyone ever had this happen to them or know more about the phenomenom that occurred? Alls well that ends well I guess. I will never look at non-threatening clouds advancing or precipitation the same again. Just wanted to share the experience to hopefully help spread the literal dangers associated with inclimate weather and learn more about the event ourselves. Thanks

Sunshine Peak w/unexpected summit event

Sunshine Peak SHOCK! - Graupel brought electric charge to summit

My climbing partner and I were about 25 ft from summiting Sunshine Peak when a sudden, windy graupel dusting created a strong static electricity charge on the peak that shocked us both repeatedly on the apex of our heads and ran down both arms. We both descended immediately in shear panic of a lightning strike. The shocks continued until we descended to flat terrain and started traversing the saddle back toward Redcloud. Anyone ever experienced this before? It took us both a second to realize what was happening because it coincided with the strongest portion of the graupel-fall and summiting. I initially was trying to differentiate the stimuli from the pelting of the graupel and what sounded like it could have been an insect in my hoody. All those thought processes ended immediately when I saw my climbing partner, experiencing the same thing, start to run down the mountain past me. Second-guessing ourselves we wish we had descended before the precipitation but it was a beautiful day until traversing between Redcloud and Sunshine and then it was pretty much just overcast weather with no thunder, lightning or ominous clouds. Feeling very lucky to have experienced the incident without a lightning strike. Again, anyone ever had this happen to them or know more about the phenomenom that occurred? Alls well that ends well I guess. I will never look at non-threatening clouds advancing or precipitation the same again. Just wanted to share the experience to hopefully help spread the literal dangers associated with inclimate weather and learn more about the event ourselves. Thanks

Comments or Questions

SES_17	Shock! 9/10/2014 4:37pm You may want to post this in the general forum for more replies. I've never experienced this but it sounds like a pretty scary situation! Glad everything turned out ok.
rideadeuce	Shock! 9/10/2014 5:42pm Thanks, will do.
Red Eagle	Charged & Shocked 9/11/2014 12:56am Yes that has happened to myself and my climbing partner. We just topped out on Half Dome with ominous clouds and NO people (they all retreated down the cables) We took a quick summit shot and it started to hail so we were packing up our gear. the next thing I see my partner swatting at what he thought were bugs. the air was snapping and the distinct smell of ozone was in the air. As he turned to me I saw that his hair was sticking out in all directions from his head. and It was dirty from not being washed in 3 days. we hurried down the cables not knowing which would be worse, the tallest thing on a bald summit with lots of aluminum 'beaners and metal cams or make a quick run down the cables. we did the latter and lived to tell about it. we latter found out that the base of the clouds above held a negative charge and all of the earth around us had positive charges attracted to it. So we were there filled with positive energy wanting to find a cloud close enough or charged enough to complete the circuit. All of the snapping was the air breaking down as the charge left our extremities. Glad you got safe and that the clouds didn't want to connect the circuit on that day with your hike.
MonGoose	Humboldt Peak 10/3/2014 4:45pm I had a somewhat similar experience on Humboldt Peak in late December a few years ago. We were coming down the East Ridge and a strong wind was pelting us with snow granules blown up the valley. My ice axe, which I was carrying in my hand started popping and shocking from the static charge that had built. There was no danger of a lightning strike at that moment but simply a charge built from the snow particle in the strong wind. If I were in your situation on Sunshine Peak, I would have done the same as you. Glad you guys are alright.

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