Luckily the numbers of documented lightening deaths indicate the risk from dying by lightening is quite reasonable relative to other risks.
The data indicates somewhere around 1 in 50 million per year in California.
Personally, I really enjoy a loud booming afternoon Sierra thunderstorm while semi-napping in a tarptent lying flat on the ground on an air mattress. I can't imagine following all these other rules unless a tree nearby just got hit.
If your are in a life threatening, lightening striking around you, I'm gonna die situation, another tip is to keep your feet together (preferably on an air mattress). Believe it or not, a separation between your feet can create a large voltage potential as the current moves through the ground beneath you. It might drop from 100,000 volts to 99,000 between your feet if the bolt hit the tree next to you. That would create a voltage potential of 1,000 volts between your two feet and a large current through your body. If your two feet are touching, the voltage between your feet would be nearly zero. Of course there are other phenomena involving your tent poles, hiking poles, etc. The bottom line for me is... if this my time, whatta ya gonna do. Make good choices, enjoy the show, and God bless you if that's the way it ends.
As common sense would inform, turn back from that pass or peak if a lightening storm is moving in, and get out of the hot springs (which can be very disappointing).
So far I've only been hit 12 times (just kidding).
