Since some of our hikers wanted to hike to the summit so we divided the group in two and used separate trailheads. The Summit Group (5) left from the lower trailhead which saved them a half hour each way, so that they completed the hike not much later than the 9 who left from the Upper Trailhead, despite doing 1,000 extra vertical feet at the top.

We met a PCT hiker from France who was surprised I spoke French. Predictably he was quite content with the outcome of the Soccer World Cup (often referred to as Le Foot in France). 

It was a beautiful day for hiking and the main group attained the ridge on time, after lunching at the Upper Lake. At that point the Summit Group had done about 1/3rd of the final ascent to the top. The main group climbed up what we were told is "Little Eddy" on the ridge, a climb I had done many times before knowing the nickname. As I took a picture of the group on top of Little Eddy, I noticed some evil clouds forming and called everyone down so we could vacate the mountain. The Summit Group were preparing for a leisurely lunch on top and I called and advised them to get off the mountain. Someone we met had told us a big tree had been hit by lightening the night before near the Upper lakes.

We all got a bit soaked but the lightening wasn't close by. A bit of hail came down but nothing serious, Several people regretted ignoring my e-mail the night before advising to bring rain-wear. 

The main group repaired to the Jefferson Roadhouse in Yreka and were joined soon after by the Summit Group. The 14 of us celebrated our surviving the storm. A great day and the soaking only made us laugh about it. 

John