Update, Thu, Oct. 23
Two men who were struck by lightning Wednesday on the summit of Humphreys Peak are recovering from their injuries.
Coconino County Sheriff’s officials say one of the victims is from Flagstaff and was taking a photo of the other man from Canada when the strike happened.
The Flagstaff man was able to walk down but the Canadian hiker was evacuated by search and rescue personnel on foot.
Inclement weather had grounded a rescue helicopter.
The victims were off the mountain before 7 p.m. in the evening and were taken to Flagstaff Medical Center with burns and other injuries.
Meanwhile, crews also rescued two boys who got lost on the San Francisco Peaks Wednesday after encountering a black bear while hiking off-trail near Agassiz Peak.
Original story
Two people were injured in a lightning strike near the top of Humphreys Peak Wednesday.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jon Paxton said the victims are from Flagstaff and Canada and did not previously know each other. He did not provide their names or ages.
Both were being treated at the Flagstaff Medical Center as of Wednesday evening. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office one of the victims is from Flagstaff and the other is from Canada.
Paxton said a rescue helicopter was grounded because of adverse weather conditions on peaks.
As a result, search and rescue crews hiked up the steep trail and reached the party on foot at the saddle between Humphreys and Agassiz peaks, about a mile below the summit.
Paramedics assessed the pair and one of the men was able to partially walk back down the trail.
But Paxton said the other victim would likely have to be evacuated from the saddle in a wheeled basket.
It was not clear as of Thursday morning whether the men were struck directly by lightning or if injured by flying debris.
Humphreys Peak is Arizona’s highest point at 12,633 feet. The Humphreys Peak Trail to the summit the mountain is a steep and strenuous 5-mile hike each way with an elevation gain of more than 3,400 feet.
The highest elevations of the San Francisco Peaks are notorious for heavy winds and potentially dangerous weather conditions.
