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- Jul 23, 2013
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Ok everyone...I just posted this question to a Uintas group on Facebook but want to get some feedback here as well. To camp above treeline or not? I've done quite a fair share of backpacking over the years but have often opted to stay below treeline or right along the edge of it because there is usually more shelter from wind, it's easier to hide from other trail traffic, and more importantly, it's deemed safer in storms with lightning. However, I've seen lots of pics and have encountered others in person who've opted for the bigger views that can come with setting up in the corner of some basin above treeline. My question is what's the real risk factor with storms and lightning? Have any of you camped above treeline or out in the open in an upper basin and had a close enough lightning strike during an afternoon or overnight storm to make you hesitate to ever do it again?
Everything I've read makes it sound much riskier to do that when there's any threat of lightning, but there are definitely some areas above tree line, especially in a number of Uinta basins I'd love to pitch my little tent for proximity to passes and/or select lakes for fishing. I've got a couple of trips coming up between this week and next month where such could be an option but also don't want to be stuck in crouch mode if a long lasting lightning storm comes through in the middle of the night.
Everything I've read makes it sound much riskier to do that when there's any threat of lightning, but there are definitely some areas above tree line, especially in a number of Uinta basins I'd love to pitch my little tent for proximity to passes and/or select lakes for fishing. I've got a couple of trips coming up between this week and next month where such could be an option but also don't want to be stuck in crouch mode if a long lasting lightning storm comes through in the middle of the night.