DEER CREEK TRAIL 
I really like this run. Headed up early Saturday afternoon for an easy 15 up on the west side of Deer Creek (starting at the dam). I knew there was a chance of thundershowers Saturday afternoon and there were a few dark clouds hanging around but nothing too threatening.  A few miles into the run I noticed more dark clouds starting to form and some lightning over Heber Valley. It was still pretty far away and isolated. I reached the turn-around at Soldier Hollow and a light rain had just started and the thunder picked up. I ducked under some of those massive trees there at the trail head to see if it would pass. I waited a couple of minutes and headed out again as it didn't look like anything too serious. 
 1 mile from the turn-around a couple of flashes of lightning and the crack of thunder got me a little nervous. The trail on the west side of the lake is cut right into the side of the mountain leaving the trail fairly exposed with as it travels across fields and open land with nothing more than sage brush and some occasional scrub oak--I felt exposed. The storm was closing in and the lightning and thunder were now a continuous serious of flashes and rumblings.  I found a spot under some scrub just as it started to hail and hunkered down. I sat nibbling on the hail and trying to stay warm as the hail turned into rain. Lightning was everywhere. It was part comical and part holy $@%#. Every time a close one hit I'd laugh a little thinking "I'm a goner." I stayed right there for close to 45 min +/- and the rain wasn't letting up. I was shivering so badly that I was weighing the options of freezing death vs struck by lightning.  Thinking it may be time to get moving inspite of the downpour, one big strike just to the north of me sent me back for a few more minutes. I had had enough of sitting there and jumped up from my little hideout immediately slipping and falling in the mud on the embankment. The rain continued but the lightning seemed to stay to the east and horizontally above vs striking down. I'd grit my teeth and do that ducking thing every time I'd see a flash of light. It took a few minutes to get rolling again but after half a mile or so I found my stride and started moving along. By the time I reached the truck the rain had slowed. I was wet but warming up and felt grateful to have come through that okay. It was beautiful, terrifying and quite an adventure. | 