Camping in a thunderstorm

[Itchy]

I was watching a video of Kazakhstan and Mongolia and there are regions which are flat and completely barren of trees and such like.... then it started showing 'climatic' changes to the regions such as the desertification of Mongolia and such which has caused more severe thunderstorms in recent times.

Erm my tent has alloy poles which stick into the ground or touch the ground, while my bike has insulating tyres meaning its somewhat likely a bolt of lightening may hit my tent.

So on a completely barren Steppe / sub desert area what is the threat from being fried by lightening? . My gut tells me that it will hit the alloy poles and conduct semi harmlessly into the ground with the extreme heat caused by this setting the body of the tent on fire. But my overactive imagination states that it will arc from the poles directly into me (and to boot I am going to be using a mylar sheet as an extra ground sheet).

Any thoughts?

Ta
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Handsome]

Make sure you've got your cock in your hand as then you'll come/cum and go at the same time...

HTH...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[stinkwheel]

From reading about the consensus seems to be that if it is totally flat:

1) Do NOT be the highest thing around.

2) Do not be near the highest thing around.

3) Do not be near any pointed objects (metal or otherwise).

4) You are more likely to be effected by ground current than a direct strike so lying down is not helpful. Nor is standing with your feet apart.

5) Insulation does fuck-all. A free electrical arc just travelled through 300m of AIR. Rubber soles will do squat.

Practically, get in a dip, away from the bike or trees. Don't be in the tent with the poles up, it's a track to earth that is near you. Squat down. Keep your feet together.

Best bet to me sounds like putting on a poncho and hunkering down under it.

In case of a strike, perfor CPR. Lightning strike is DC, it causes cardiac arrest but NOT fibrullation. Rapidly applied CPR has a good chance of restarting the heart. A precordial thump may be all that is needed.

If there is a car or truck nearby, get in it. This will almost 100% protect you from lightning strike.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Itchy]

Oh dear.... there doesn't seem to be much you can do......

*quietly files this under things to not think about*.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[colin1]

I reckon the alloy poles will act as a lightning rod.

Electricity will choose the path of least resistance, so in your tent, the alloy pole will take the hit not you. They will also conduct electricity with little resistance, so wont generate much heat.

Its electricity going through something with resistance that generates heat.

Probably a good idea not to be too close to the tent pole though.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[stinkwheel]

[Phoenix]

[Peirre oBollox]

[Itchy]

c'mon guys this isn't funny!
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[yen_powell]

I think Touratech provided Ewen and Charlie with asbestos pyjamas for this very reason. I believe that you can now buy 'Long Way Round' monogrammed pairs on the UKGSer site.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Itchy]

[stinkwheel]

Actually, the safest thing would be a suit of chainmail. This has a faraday cage effect. Live wire linesmen wear them to work on supergrid pylons.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Feasty]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

...and

[Itchy]