Where would you setup camp in this picture

"Hey now. I do read all of these. It is just that I'm a novice compared to most so I keep quiet."

I was just jerking your chain a bit to see if I could get a rise. All in good fun.

Sure enough, I got a rise. ;0))

First, I agree that this thread has been really informative.

Here's some arrows to show where I think people have said they would set-up:

The red for David A, the blue is where I'm thinking (closer to a possible water source below but out of the colder "bowl" area) and the yellow for Dave C and others.

Does this make sense with what others are thinking?

"the blue is where I'm thinking (closer to a possible water source below but out of the colder "bowl" area)"

Yes. The blue arrow points to exactly where I was trying to describe in my convoluted way.

I would camp down in the thicker forest. I only tarp camp, and I don't use trekking poles so I would need trees to tie off to. In a thicker forest with lots of limbs and branches I can make some really creative set ups to counter any weather coming in. It would also give me the ability to make a small fire to cook and keep warm.

Steven, yep, the red arrow where I was looking at for a camp. Of course getting there depends on being able to skirt around to the left without too much bother. Sometimes (usually ?) it is hard to judge how fast a storm is approaching. That route is fairly exposed so if you did not make it in time you might find yourself scrambling down off the ridge in the rain.

A better approach might be to travel through the bottom where there are some acceptable intermediate camps. If the storm didn't catch you before then, your and Tom's blue arrow camp does as you say, gets you up out of the damp but without too much exposure. Probably a better choice.

I do like the idea of Justin's camp with a big tarp and a fire ensconced well back in the trees, though. Seems like a pleasant way to sit out a storm.

btw, I was joking about choosing an air mattress based on lightning protection. I can't imagine in would make much difference.

I would camp in the meadow near the yellow arrow. If lightning is going to come close to that site it would likely hit the tallest object there, one of the trees. Also it is the lowest place meaning lighting is more likely to hit the higher ground before it gets to the meadow. The meadow is also fare enough away to to eliminate the hazard of falling branches and trees due to strong winds that sometimes accompany thunderstorms. Access to water or nighttime temperatures are not relevent when looking for a safe place.

"Lightning is why I insist on using my Exped UL9 insulated air mattress. It has an insulation value of R=5.9. I am not sure what that works out to in Ohms though."

Of all insulating materials out there air and vacuum have the greatest electrical resistance. If the electrical charge in the cloud can jump through miles of air to your tent the sleeping pad isn't going to provide any meaningful protection.

Many people think cars are a safe place because of the rubber tires. No. It's safe because the steel conducts the electricity around to to the steel or aluminum wheel rims where it then arcs along the side of the rubber to ground. At no time does the lightning pass through the occupants of the car.

"The best spot is where the photographer is standing'
that was the first thing that came to mind….

Of course it depends a lot on how much time I think I have before the storm hits.
If say I only have 15 to 20 minutes, I would set up right there so that my tent is nice and taut ,ready for the weather.
If on the other hand I have at least half an hour and say in 15-20 minutes I can be close to but not too close to some tall trees then I would opt for that.
looks like in 10 min I could be in that area where the yellow arrow points, that looks good enough…