Lightning-struck hiker recounts moment atop Humphreys Peak

Flagstaff man details lightning-strike experience on Humphreys Peak

A Flagstaff man who was struck by lightning while on Humphreys Peak shares his story of survival. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean reports.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Two men are lucky to be alive after being struck by lightning in northern Arizona this week. 

The two were hiking together when they were both hit by the same bolt. Now one of the men is speaking out. 

The backstory:

Scott Courtright is an avid hiker and has worked as an archaeologist for three decades, making him very knowledgeable about the outdoors. 

He said the strike on Humphreys Peak, near Flagstaff, was a freak situation where lightning formed out of nowhere. The forecast on Wednesday called for potential rain in the afternoon but no real threat of storms, Courtright said, on a day that turned into a fight to survive on a mountaintop. 

Courtright, who said he's currently furloughed as a federal employee, decided to hike Humphrey's Peak on Oct. 22, starting around 7 a.m. and reaching the peak before 11 a.m.

It was there that he met another man named John. Within minutes of exchanging small talk, the two men were struck by a bolt of lightning.

John, who took the brunt of the strike, suffered worse burns than Courtright but is also expected to be okay.

What they're saying:

"I think I must've been kneeling down to get a drink of water or to put my pack on and the next thing I know I woke up on the ground."

Courtright said when he woke up 10 to 15 minutes later, he was paralyzed for nearly an hour.

Survivor struck by lightning while hiking on Humphreys Peak speaks out

One of the two hikers struck by lightning on Humphreys Peak near Flagstaff is speaking out, warning other hikers to always overprepare and overpack, in case the unexpected happens. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean reports.

"So when the lightning struck me, it hit me in my right forearm, my clothes have two holes right here and I remember trying to lift my arm and from my elbow down, I visualize it as a limp spaghetti noodle. I couldn't feel anything and it was just dead."

Eventually Courtright was able to move, and jumped into action to help John, who had taken the direct strike.

"I knew what I needed to do to survive and that was get with John, cover John, we moved behind the rock wall that's next to the summit marker, we hunkered down there, I made a little rock wall next to him at one point and tried to get us both out of the wind."

Dig deeper:

Courtright was able to call 911, but rescue crews were hindered by the windy conditions and the strenuous hike to the summit. So the two men were alone on the mountain for three hours, huddling together to stay warm, before they were able to hike a mile down and meet up with crews.

Courtright said he partially credits his habit of overpacking for helping the duo survive.

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"I always look at stuff and say do I really need to bring all this because it's extra weight, it takes up extra space but I think it was just planning ahead, always plan for the unexpected, and the unexpected showed up this time."

And while he never could've predicted this experience, he said there was a reason both men were on that mountaintop at the same time that morning. 

"It was just wrong place, wrong time, but then also the right place, because I think if I was by myself and I was struck, or John, it might've been a lot different outcome. We only made it out together, because we were together," he said.

What's next:

John is still recovering at a burn center, but Courtright said he's in good spirits and they've been exchanging text messages.

He added that he hopes one day they might be able to hike the mountain together again.