Hiking Weather

I've been posting some photos from a hike to Pancake Rocks last summer The high ridge can get some nasty weather, and many trees have been hit by lightning.

 And even as I was coming down the trail, a storm was forming.

The key to hiking in high places like this is to start early and finish by noon if possible, since the thunderstorms usually form in the afternoon. I was safely in my car before much lightning and thunder was happening, and was off the ridge before any lightning at all was visible. In the summer, these storms can be an almost daily occurrence so safety must be your priority (although I did see people still heading up as the storm was clearly on its way). This is my Skywatch Friday entry for the week - come back in a couple of days for the last of my Pancake Rocks photos, some more views from the trail.