Thunderstorms in high elevations can be really dangerous. The current weather forecast for the upcoming week in Yosemite and Mammoth predicts four days of thundershowers. I’m planning to take some photos in the Tuolumne Meadows area at that time, so it should be interesting to see exactly what the weather is going to be like.

I’ve never been one who’s been afraid of thunder and lightning, but I haven’t exactly been caught in a real intense lightning storm since I was bout 8 years old. At that time, lightning was striking the streets outside the elementary school in the San Fernando Valley. It was a little scary, but at the same time exciting. I do remember getting a rush out of it.

I will be taking the National Park Systems precautions seriously while in Yosemite. When they say to avoid certain areas during thunderstorms for safety reasons, I’ll do so. I sometimes take risks to get photos, but in Yosemite I don’t mess around. It’ll be kind of disappointing if I don’t get to take many photos, but I plan to return to the park in the future to take more. Things always happen for a reason.

On a sad note, a teenager was swept over Nevada Fall to his death in Yosemite today. He was swimming in an area that wasn’t illegal, but there were warning signs posted. At this time of the year, Nevada and Vernal Falls are extremely dangerous to be near because the river current is so strong. I don’t know why people don’t heed the warnings. It’s sad that so many people have died in Yosemite in recent years. How many deaths is it going to take to make people realize we’re not invincible?