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National Park After Dark

A Lightning Strike Rescue: Yosemite National Park

National Park After Dark

Danielle LaRock & Cassandra Yahnian

True Crime, Places & Travel, History, Society & Culture

4.6 • 5.8K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2024

⏱️ 82 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On July 27, 1985 a group of five people climbed Half Dome, one of the most prominent rock faces inside the park. A summer storm brewed over the summit, but despite the dangers, they continued on. By the end of the day, two people were dead and three were critically injured after being struck by lightning, sparking an intense nighttime helicopter rescue. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to this week’s partners!Reel: Use our link or code NPAD to sign up for a subscription to automatically get 30% off of your first order and free shipping.Hatch: Use our link to get $20 off and free shipping.Lume Deodorant: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with@lumedeodorant and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code NPAD at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The following are crucial to know for your own safety during a lightning storm.

0:06.0

First, all thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous.

0:11.0

Second, the outdoors is the most dangerous place you can be during a storm.

0:16.7

Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall and can travel sideways for up to 10 miles. If you're outdoors and the air starts

0:26.4

buzzing and your hair bristles, it might be too late. But these next steps are important.

0:33.0

Seek the lowest point.

0:34.5

Do not be the tallest or the second tallest object around

0:37.9

and avoid trees.

0:39.5

If you're in an open area, crouch down on the balls of your feet. Stand on top of a backpack if you can.

0:45.6

If you're with others, stay several yards away from them. Stay away from water and do not

0:50.8

touch anything that is metal.

0:53.0

Stay alert and know your surroundings.

0:56.0

It might be your only chance of survival.

0:59.0

Welcome to National Park After Dark. you're going to do. Is this our third lightning episode? I think it is. I believe so because we have

1:30.9

your Spark Ranger one right and then my Grand Teton one and I can't think of I think that's I can't think of another one yeah right I don't know I feel like we talk about it a lot

1:43.0

I don't know but there might be more in the backlog

1:45.0

that we're just not thinking of,

1:46.0

but I feel like this is the first major lightning story

1:49.0

that I've done since the Grand Teton one.

1:51.0

Which is a fan favorite.

1:52.8

I mean still.

1:54.0

And we did it at the very beginning of the,

...

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