I had my face buried in the computer for the last few hours, so didn't see any of this building up right on top of me. For those not familiar with StormChasing, here's the dilemma: do I go south 20 miles where the really big cells are going off, or do I get in position right here and see if these local ones build up? There's a possibility that by the time I get in position down south I will have missed all the good lightning bolts, meanwhile this one will be going off but out of range. Or I can sit here and have nothing happen while that one to the south just keeps going and going.

Well, got set up at my favorite spot down at Oregon Pipe National Monument, perfect for this storm… 15 minutes too late. There is another cell coming, but unfortunately it looks like it might run right over the top of my location.

Well, I waited around and eventually some new cells popped up but they weren't in line of view so I ran around the hill and put one camera over there and then I could see on the radar that there were bolts happening behind the hill I was on so I hiked to the top of it in my flip-flops trying not to step on cactus or stub my toe on the loose rocks and got some great shots on top but stayed too long and almost got overrun by the next storm so I ran down in the dark holding the camera and tripod and using only my cell phone light to avoid stepping on the big rattlesnake that I almost stepped on then I got to the truck, ran around the mountain to grab the other camera and got back to the truck moments before the massive deluge started with bolts slamming real close.

Whew. 😂⚡️⚡️⚡️

#StormChasing

Then, I drove south 15 minutes to Lukeville on the US-Mexico border, because the storm cells that had been looking like they were going to fizzle out totally blew up and were headed for the border just east of there. I knew exactly the shot I wanted and I'm pretty sure I got it. Now I'm sitting here along the border wall with two cameras time lapsing but it looks like the last of the cells have fizzled out.

Predictably, a couple Border Patrol vans rolled up, wanting to check out what I was doing. I asked them if there were a number that I could call next time to let them know what I was doing out here to save them the hassle of coming to check me out and they gave me one.

At first they were telling me that I couldn't be on the border road and I gave them one of those over the top of my glasses "really?" looks. And then he punted and said "well if the Ranger catches you out here he might give you a ticket," referring to the National Park Rangers who never ever come out here and certainly would never bother writing a ticket for something like this.

Radar just updated and no more lightning anywhere, so calling it a night. Damn! Way wilder than I anticipated! I think I got a shot or two that will make it all worth it.

Well, turns out I did get a shot or two worth posting.

The bolts are hitting the Growler Mountains in Cabeza Prieta NWR. I was to the east, on a hill in Organ Pipe National Monument.

I'll post the others pics on my blog with a short story about the evening later.
Edit: here's the blog post link:
https://www.mikaljakubal.com/october-surprise/

#StormChasing #lightning #photography #Monsoon2024

Wow!