Lightning does strike twice, apparently. A group of hikers learned this to be true during a terrifying climb up the famous Half Dome in Yosemite. Upon reaching the summit, the hikers were swiftly caught in a storm. While waiting out the storm in a cave, two separate flashes of lightning struck multiple members in their group. The first lightning strike rebounded off a rock and struck one man in the knee. The second strike appeared to hit two others, causing them to temporarily lose their memory. Fortunately, everyone miraculously made it out in one piece and hiked down on their own accord.
Jordan Swedener, one of the hikers trapped in the cave, shared footage of the events online. In her retelling, she highlighted just how dangerous the Half Dome ascent was for more than just her party. She witnessed two people fall over 100 feet in separate accidents on this same trip. One of the rescues required a helicopter to drop off the crew. Here is what she shared on social media:
Swedener and Jordan Dean (who was struck in the knee) were interviewed by NBC Bay Area to recount their crazy story. You can view a clip of this interview below. To quote the news anchor: “what the hell?”
Photos and Videos Courtesy of Jordan Swedener, Yosemite National Park, and Jessica Aguirre of NBC Bay Area