Teen Hiker Dies After Lightning Strikes ‘Tin Shack’ He was Inside

A 19-year-old hiker was killed and several others were injured after lightning struck a small metal shelter near the summit of one of Utah’s most famous mountains during a violent early-morning thunderstorm.

The deadly strike happened Friday, Sept. 18, near the top of Mount Timpanogos, a rugged Wasatch Mountain peak that rises roughly 11,750 feet above sea level.

According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, hikers near the summit sought protection from the storm inside a small structure commonly known as the “Tin Shack.” Lightning then struck the shelter, critically injuring the 19-year-old man.

Search-and-rescue crews were called at around 6 a.m. and battled difficult weather and terrain as they tried to reach the group.

First responders attempted to save the teenager, but he was pronounced dead on the mountain. Authorities had not publicly released his identity as of Monday.

Several other hikers were also hurt. Sgt. Garett Dutson told KSL that four hikers suffering minor injuries were able to make their own way down the mountain before being taken to a hospital for evaluation. Officials said the rescue operation took longer than usual because crews were working through active storm conditions.

Reports have differed slightly on exactly how many hikers were at the summit. KSL, citing the sheriff’s office, reported nine hikers traveling in two separate groups, while later reports described the victim sheltering with nine other people. Authorities have consistently said multiple hikers were injured.

The storm was dramatic enough to be photographed from miles away.

Utah photographer Taylor Ehat was near Mill Canyon early that morning when he spotted hikers’ headlamps on Mount Timpanogos as thunderstorms moved through the area.

At roughly 6:20 a.m., Ehat photographed a massive lightning bolt hitting the mountain. He did not learn until later that a hiker had been killed during the storm.

“When that lightning gets involved, it’s a whole other ball game,” Ehat told KUTV.

Ehat said the tragedy hit especially close to home because his daughter is around the same age as the victim and had recently considered making the same hike before canceling because of the weather.

“It makes it very real — and how powerful nature can be,” he said.

Ehat later shared images of the storm through his photography account. His photographs show lightning cutting across the dark mountain landscape near Timpanogos.

Mount Timpanogos is one of Utah’s best-known hiking destinations. The Forest Service lists the mountain at about 11,750 feet, and one of its main approaches, the Aspen Grove Trail, is roughly 14 miles round trip. The final portions of the climb leave hikers exposed at high elevation, where rapidly developing thunderstorms can become especially dangerous.

The tragedy also highlights an important misconception about mountain shelters.

Despite its name, the Tin Shack is not considered safe protection during a lightning storm. The National Weather Service says small sheds and similar shelters do not provide adequate lightning protection. A substantial enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle is far safer.

Hikers caught near a summit or ridgeline are advised to move off elevated terrain as quickly as possible when thunder is heard.

“If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you,” the National Weather Service warns.

Officials also stress that lightning can strike miles away from the heaviest rain, meaning hikers do not have to be directly underneath the center of a storm to be in danger.

The Mount Timpanogos death was reportedly the second fatal lightning strike in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains this year. A 59-year-old man was killed near the summit of American Fork Twin Peaks in July, according to the Daily Herald.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the latest tragedy should serve as another warning about how quickly conditions can deteriorate at high elevation.

“The Utah County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life,” the agency said, while also recognizing the hikers and rescue personnel who helped the injured.

The circumstances surrounding the strike remain under investigation, and officials said additional information could be released as the investigation and family notifications are completed.