A 19-year-old hiker was killed and several others were injured after lightning struck near a small shelter close to the summit of Utah’s Mount Timpanogos during a powerful early-morning thunderstorm.
The deadly incident unfolded around 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, as two separate groups of hikers were near the top of the 11,749-foot mountain and sought shelter from worsening weather.
According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, the hikers took cover near a small structure commonly known as the “Tin Shack.”
Lightning then struck in the area, critically injuring the 19-year-old man and hurting several others.
Rescuers were dispatched to the mountain, but authorities said the teen died at the scene despite efforts to save him. His name had not been publicly released as of the latest reports.
The remaining hikers had to be treated and evacuated from the mountain in what officials described as a difficult rescue complicated by the elevation, terrain and severe weather.
Authorities said multiple agencies assisted with the operation.
The sheriff’s office offered its “deepest condolences” to the young man’s family and friends and said the tragedy was a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions can change in Utah’s mountains.
Mount Timpanogos is one of Utah County’s most heavily visited peaks. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office says its search-and-rescue teams respond to more incidents there than at any of the county’s other high peaks because of the mountain’s accessibility and popularity.
The shelter where the hikers gathered may have offered protection from rain and wind, but small sheds and similar structures are not considered safe during lightning storms.
The National Weather Service warns that if thunder can be heard, lightning is already close enough to strike. Officials recommend immediately leaving exposed high areas such as mountain ridges and peaks and seeking shelter inside a substantial building or an enclosed, hard-topped vehicle whenever possible.
Weather photographer Taylor Ehat was near the mountain that morning and captured lightning from below without initially realizing a hiker had been critically injured higher up.
Ehat later told KUTV that lightning dramatically changes the danger level for anyone traveling on foot in the mountains and said the tragedy showed just how powerful nature can be.
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