Lightning Destroys Famous Mountain Rock
A rock pillar on the top of Ben Nevis was found in pieces after a storm rolled over the mountain
A rock structure on top of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s tallest mountain, was destroyed by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm earlier this week. The artificial pillar stood close to the summit and was seen by countless hikers and climbers each week.
The local weather station reported that the U.K. and Ireland recorded 28,000 lightning flashes during the day. The storm was caused by a heatwave in Scotland’s northwest. Damage to the rock pillar was first spotted by Kinlochleven-based mountain guide Rich Pyne, who has climbed Ben Nevis over 560 times.
“Someone asked me if it could have been possible vandalism,” Pyne told The Scotsman. “I said that only Thor and his hammer would be able to take that out with one swing. I saw no signs of hammer marks; it looks like it was destroyed from within.”
As we head into summer, lightning strikes will become a real danger in mountain ranges around North America. For tips to climbing alpine faces this summer visit here, and to watch what happens when a storm rolls in on alpine climbers see here.
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