Caught in the Open in a Lightning Storm
23-June 2004: I was amazed at how quickly it went from sunny and fair to the lightning show we were now experiencing. Then, I quickly realized the danger we were in when I noticed there wasn't anything but grass and low-lying bush around us on the trail. With the lightning flashing with such frequency, I wasn't sure what we should do... It was freezing cold in our cabin at Canyon Lodge when Julie and I awoke at 6am. After packing our stuff and checking out at the front lobby, we were off to Mammoth to try to secure campground reservations (knowing we this day we didn't pre-book anything). We arrived at the first come first served campground at around 8am. We got our campsite without any problems and quickly pitched the tent under the fine, cloudless weather. Then, we headed back towards Mammoth and towards the terraces. The terraces were quite impressive, but the majority of them were a ghostly white and brown. This included the famed Minerva Terrace, which was pretty much dead except for a little bit of color at its very top.
By the time we were done visiting the terraces, it was about 11:15am and still sunny and clear.
Evidence of the forest fires were evident around the trail as there were numerous pockets of burnt stumps with new saplings growing in high densities right around them. So Julie and I merrily hiked along this mostly flat trail, which lasted the first 2 miles. We didn't really pay attention to the fact that the skies had suddenly went from fine weather to ominous and foreboding as dark thunderheads quickly overtook us. Then, we started to hear thunder. Along with the thunder, we started to see flashes of lightning suddenly popping up in the sky with alarming frequency. I was amazed at how quickly it went from sunny and fair to the lightning show we were now experiencing. Then, I quickly realized the danger we were in when I noticed there wasn't anything but grass and low-lying bush around us on the trail. With the lightning flashing with such frequency, I wasn't sure what we should do. So Julie and I continued walking along the trail. We knew there were other people on the trail too and wondered what they would've done in this situation. I especially wondered about those folks on Bunsen Peak during this storm.
Anyways, we enjoyed this falls and left when the next large party of hikers made it to the falls. It was after 4pm when we returned to the car park and fortunately no further incidence of lightning in the open occurred (though it was always on our minds). As a matter of fact, the weather started to clear again and afternoon sunlight prevailed. Julie and I spent the rest of the afternoon taking a shower in the Mammoth Hotel (something that wasn't advertised when I did my trip research). Then, we had a nice dinner in one of the restaurants in town.
When night time fell, we both peacefully slept in our tents. The moon was full and I swore I could hear howling that woke me up from my semi-conscious state. I couldn't tell if they were coyotes or wolves, but either way, their eerie howls somehow reminded me of werewolves. And with that thought, I eventually drifted back into my subconscious and slept the night away...
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However, there were some other live and colorful springs. Particularly memorable were the Canary Spring, Palette Spring, and Orange Mound.
Next, we intended to see 
It was a little past noon when we started the hike to Osprey Falls. The skies remained sunny and wildflowers were growing all over the four-wheel-drive track converted hiking trail. The trail passed through an open grassy field as it went around the base of Bunsen Peak.
It was almost 2pm when we finally made it to the base of the impressive 150ft Osprey Falls. The trail got steep towards its end beneath the falls. There was even a natural overhanging shelter which would come in handy should the skies dump rain again.
It was 8:30pm when we returned to our tent in the Mammoth Campground. There was still late afternoon light at this hour. Both Julie and I spent time reading and tending to our personal hygiene. We both marveled at how nice their restroom facilities were. We figured it probably had to do with being close to the National Park Headquarters :)
