Someone over at 14ers.com linked this to a current thread over there. Dam. This was a commanding read. Well written. Thank God your wife made it out ok. Did she ever know what happened until you told her?
Thanks for your note, much appreciated. No, she never felt a thing, and didn't know what happened until sometime the next day. In fact, as we were evacuating her all she knew was that something bad happened, and it wasn't until she was in the hospital that she fully realized what it was.
Unwelcome birthday present indeed! According to the "Fort Benning,
Georgia" incident, some of the soldiers that were hit didn't
remember a thing. It happens so quickly, that we already should be 'prepared' for the worst. And sometimes, the worst turns out to be the best. At least we should hope for the best. Nice article, man!! -Larry
Thank you Larry. Glad you liked the article. Fortunately that story had a good outcome (mostly - my wife still has unfortunate side effects), unlike those poor guys who got hit and killed right here in town a couple of weeks ago...
Saw the TR title while searching Rawah stuff and wondered if this was Jude's story. Reading it, gave volumes of detail to the statement, "Jude was struck by lightning once."
Amazing, very well written story. Sounds like you did a lot of things right, Nelson.
Thanks Bill. It would have been a lot worse if I did not have that CPR training, so at least that was one thing done right. You'd never know it to look at her, as you know, but she still has assorted issues traced back to this incident. Her extreme vertigo is one of the worst. That even affects our salsa dancing! Still, she does pretty good... I'll drop you an e-mail. We should get together for a marg.
I enjoyed your account of your Kili ascent - and bravo to Jude! Your descriptions of her incredible fortitude prompted me to follow the links to this page... and WOW what a story - and so glad you had that First Aid knowledge all those years ago.
It was all the more poignant to me having recently spent the night in a not very good snow-cave on summit of Mont Blanc - during a thunderstorm. We knew there was the possibility of thunderstorms when we went up there - but went anyway - and got jolted by 2 lightning strikes in quick succession - 'shocking' but no injuries like Jude had. But reading your account just gave me a powerful feeling of how lucky we were to have got away with it.
If you are at all interested I wrote up the experience on SP http://www.summitpost.org/alps-international-expedition-2013/863122 but quite understand may be the last thing you would want to read after such a nightmare experience and nearly losing Jude.
Although nearly 10 years ago congratulations to both of you for summiting Kili by the way - but especially Jude.
Best wishes, Mark
ShaunR - May 20, 2006 4:20 am - Voted 10/10
EnlighteningMoving story, extremely well written, and big kudos for spreading lightning awareness so effectively!!
Nelson - May 21, 2006 3:32 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: EnlighteningThanks very much for your comment, much appreciated, especially coming from a gifted writer.
En-lightning! Aha, I get it now! :-}
Kiefer - Oct 17, 2006 4:48 pm - Voted 10/10
commandingSomeone over at 14ers.com linked this to a current thread over there. Dam. This was a commanding read. Well written. Thank God your wife made it out ok. Did she ever know what happened until you told her?
Nelson - Oct 18, 2006 1:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: commandingThanks for your note, much appreciated. No, she never felt a thing, and didn't know what happened until sometime the next day. In fact, as we were evacuating her all she knew was that something bad happened, and it wasn't until she was in the hospital that she fully realized what it was.
FlatheadNative - Jun 13, 2008 9:42 pm - Voted 10/10
Incredible storythanks for sharing. 80% of all CPR is performed on family members. It is awesome that you took a course. Very informative article.
Nelson - Jun 14, 2008 2:24 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Incredible storyThanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed the story. Yes, taking that course was a fortunate turn of fate. Regards, Nelson
lcarreau - Aug 11, 2008 5:27 pm - Voted 10/10
Thanks Nelson ...Unwelcome birthday present indeed! According to the "Fort Benning,
Georgia" incident, some of the soldiers that were hit didn't
remember a thing. It happens so quickly, that we already should be 'prepared' for the worst. And sometimes, the worst turns out to be the best. At least we should hope for the best. Nice article, man!! -Larry
Nelson - Aug 14, 2008 1:05 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Thanks Nelson ...Thank you Larry. Glad you liked the article. Fortunately that story had a good outcome (mostly - my wife still has unfortunate side effects), unlike those poor guys who got hit and killed right here in town a couple of weeks ago...
Thanks again for your great lightning article.
Bill Reed - Dec 8, 2009 7:58 pm - Voted 10/10
Glad it turned out as well as it did!Saw the TR title while searching Rawah stuff and wondered if this was Jude's story. Reading it, gave volumes of detail to the statement, "Jude was struck by lightning once."
Amazing, very well written story. Sounds like you did a lot of things right, Nelson.
Nelson - Dec 12, 2009 6:00 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Glad it turned out as well as it did!Thanks Bill. It would have been a lot worse if I did not have that CPR training, so at least that was one thing done right. You'd never know it to look at her, as you know, but she still has assorted issues traced back to this incident. Her extreme vertigo is one of the worst. That even affects our salsa dancing! Still, she does pretty good... I'll drop you an e-mail. We should get together for a marg.
Nelson - Dec 19, 2010 11:18 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Crazy storyThanks for reading my story and for your comment. Glad nothing happened to you guys!
markhallam - May 22, 2015 1:50 am - Voted 10/10
What an extraordinary tale...I enjoyed your account of your Kili ascent - and bravo to Jude! Your descriptions of her incredible fortitude prompted me to follow the links to this page... and WOW what a story - and so glad you had that First Aid knowledge all those years ago.
It was all the more poignant to me having recently spent the night in a not very good snow-cave on summit of Mont Blanc - during a thunderstorm. We knew there was the possibility of thunderstorms when we went up there - but went anyway - and got jolted by 2 lightning strikes in quick succession - 'shocking' but no injuries like Jude had. But reading your account just gave me a powerful feeling of how lucky we were to have got away with it.
If you are at all interested I wrote up the experience on SP http://www.summitpost.org/alps-international-expedition-2013/863122 but quite understand may be the last thing you would want to read after such a nightmare experience and nearly losing Jude.
Although nearly 10 years ago congratulations to both of you for summiting Kili by the way - but especially Jude.
Best wishes, Mark
Nelson - May 23, 2015 12:24 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: What an extraordinary tale...Mark,
Thanks much for the comments! I have shared them with Jude and we really appreciate it.
Surprised that they pulled out this old TR to land on the SP front page again, 10 years after.
Your Alps International Expedition 2013 TR was a superb read. Sending you a PM as well.
Take care,
Nelson