In the remote Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a rare fungus grows inside dead caterpillars. In traditional Chinese medicine, this parasitic fungus is prized for its purported medicinal effects. Known as Ophiocordyceps sinensis – colloquially, caterpillar fungus or “Himalayan gold” – it can fetch astronomical prices on the herbal medicine market: up to US$63,000 per pound.

A deadly harvest

People hunt for this fungus during late spring and summer, exactly when lightning strikes are most common in these mountains. Villagers often spend weeks scouring the rugged mountains for this precious resource, sometimes up to 16,400 feet (5 kilometers) above sea level. That’s an altitude of more than 3 miles.

At these heights, the weather can change in an instant, and there’s nowhere safe to hide from storms. While this area doesn’t get as many lightning strikes as some parts of Asia, it’s still dangerous enough to be a serious threat during these crucial harvesting months.

Tragically, caterpillar fungus hunting has led to at least 31 lightning-related deaths and another 58 lightning-related injuries in the past decade

But lightning isn’t the only threat these villagers face in the mountains. They could encounter hail, heavy rains, strong winds and other severe weather. The complex terrain makes weather patterns highly dramatic and unpredictable.