Often considered to be an adventurous sport and one of the top outdoor activities, mountaineering involves climbing on snow, glaciers, or ice to reach a summit. When traversing these difficult terrains, mountaineers should know how to protect themselves in the event of extreme weather, such as thunderstorms.
On the day of a hike, mountaineers should check the weather forecast and remember that at higher elevations, temperatures are cooler and conditions are windier. Thunderstorms, which can present danger to climbers, typically form in the early afternoon in mountainous areas.
Mountaineers should keep in mind the 30/30 rule when encountering thunderstorms. If the sound of thunder comes less than 30 seconds after a flash of lightning, climbers should seek shelter or get below the tree line immediately. If that is not possible, they should get away from summits and isolated trees and find as low point as possible in the terrain.