Utah Hiker Dies After Being Struck by Lightning Near American Fork Twin Peaks Summit

On Monday, July 20, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Craig Nelson, 59, was killed while climbing American Fork Twin Peaks in Utah earlier this month, according to KSL.

Nelson and his brother were attempting to climb the east peak of the range on the morning of July 18 when they noticed a large storm rolling in around 10:30 a.m. After observing the changing weather for a number of minutes and witnessing no visible lightning, the pair decided to continue toward the summit.

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Despite dramatically worsening conditions, the brothers ascended all the way to the peak, where, just steps below the summit, Nelson instantly collapsed, having presumably been struck by a bolt of lightning. His brother immediately began descending solo in an attempt to regain cell service, and was able to call emergency services around noon, near the top of the Snowbird Tram, perched roughly 500 feet below where Nelson was struck.

While Nelson was located almost immediately by a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter, rescuers were not able to reach his body for a prolonged period due to the inclement weather. When contact was safely made after the storm had passed, Craig Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.

In light of this incident, the Sheriff’s Office is urging climbers to use an abundance of caution when dealing with summer storms, given the unpredictable nature of Utah’s summer weather. Officials state that hikers should seek lower elevation and stay at least 300 feet away from the nearest body of water during inclement conditions, to stay as safe as possible while outdoors this summer.

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