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The Hike
Your probably wondering: How could the nearly flat, well maintained road to View Benchmark be unnerving? Well, to explain that I'll just start at the beginning.
View from the trailheadI made the decision to climb View Benchmark after reading the article on Utah Triangulation Stations. It was a Wednesday, and it was close to 100 degrees. So I watched a group of clouds make their way east and timed it so I got to the trailhead about when the clouds put the mountains into the shade.
I started up the dirt road that winds its way around the Traverse Mountains. About 15 minutes in I hear a large crack of thunder almost directly over my head. I look up to see the large, black cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the area. I didn't let it bother me, so I kept hiking. Then it dawned on me that I was heading to the top of a mountain in a thunderstorm. And as if that wasn't enough, this particular mountain just
Getting closeAfter reaching the summit I only stayed long enough to snap a few pictures. I could hear the buzz of electricity running through the large metal pyramid, so I kept my distance. On the way down I experienced some heavy rain, but besides that it was uneventful. As I got off the ridge I began feeling more relaxed.
View
TimpLike I said, I have no idea if I was in any real danger. I don't have a clue what the chances are of being struck by lightning on a mountain, but I've heard of it happening. The whole hike took me about an hour, and besides the bad weather it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who has limited time but still wants a rewarding summit.