The storm was moving in. The sky had already darkened and the winds were beginning to dance and spin. Although it was only 5 p.m. on that afternoon, the shadows of the clouds had completely hidden the summer sun.
It was then that you could hear it. Slowly at first, a light pitter patter on the leaves of the trees, but to the West a faint roar could be heard moving through the trees, followed by the low rumbles of the thunder.
Indeed we had little time, for the rain was coming...
Distant sirens could be heard, between the rumbles of thunder. Tornadoes were in the area. Perhaps moving along the ridges and hilltops. Luckily we were deep within the valley, momentarily safe from winds that strong.
As we finished wrapping our supplies in tarps the rain began to come down on us. Quickly we scooted into our tents. In a matter of minutes the sound of the rain grew louder and louder. The thunder and lightning were all around us. The flashes of lightning a strobing glow illuminating everything for a fraction of a second. It was then, as we remained hunkered down in the tents, that the winds began to change.
Deep howling sounds from the ridges began to move the branches of the trees above us. The movement of the leaves could be heard but not seen. Soon the gusts began to brush against the sides of the tents and branches could be heard snapping. It became clear very quickly that we needed shelter, something more substantial shelter than our tents. But it was pouring now, the rains had transformed into a full on downpour. This was a mixture that made visibility next to nothing and communication impossible due to the roar of winds and rain.
No time for hesitation once you were out in it....only action.
There was only one choice, the bathroom shelter. It's concrete walls were the perfect protection from these unrestrained forces of nature. It would take quick action, precise commands and perfect supervision to pull it off. The task itself was to get the other guides and the teen campers, 13 in total, from there tents, through the blinding rain, safely into the shelter in one swift motion.
I began with a quick sprint into the tent of the other guides. A short briefing of the plan, who would go to which tent and a review of the path to the shelter. In a matter of minutes the decision had been made, the plan formulated and shared, now there was only one thing left to do......
"GO!!!" I shouted.
We bolted from the tent running to each of the others, shouting the instructions and helping the campers leap up and start moving towards the shelter. As we moved, branches were snapping all around us, lightning flashed so brightly it became daylight for the briefest of moments, then again total darkness, it was the chaos of the storm that one can only truly comprehend from experiencing it themselves.
The first few made it in, the second and third groups followed, then the other guides. A quick head count. "Do we have everyone?" counting names as everyone sounded off. Yes we do we have everyone. The door still being blown open, was locked now. It was time to wait. The sounds grew louder and louder, crashing of trees, the waves of rain against the building all swelled as we huddled together inside. 16 of us in a small bathroom shelter amidst the raging storm.
Then it happened...slowly at first..... a couple voices. By the time the second verse came everyone was singing. Soon we were laughing about the smells and the situation. A joy like sensation swept the group and we all felt the deep sense of connection that would come from sharing this experience.
"Who could have guessed that within the walls of a park bathroom, our sense of presence and comradery would be so tangible."
The storm passed within a couple hours. As we left the shelter, we saw all that had occurred. Fallen trees, a crushed tent and pools of standing water. We all slept well the rest of that night, grateful for our safety and holding a profound respect for the Power of Nature. The rest of the trip had a different energy. When people go through challenges such as these they are connected by a humbleness and gratitude that is often catalyzed by difficulty, direness or struggle.
It doesn't need to be running for cover during a gigantic thunder storm
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