Wetass Hobby #43–Storm Chasing: If you have lived all your life in Blair, Nebraska, your entertainment options are limited. You can watch corn grow, you can root for the ‘Huskers, or you can tip cows. OR, you can come up with your own way of getting outside and having a rip-roaring, adrenaline pumping good time. At least that’s what Mike Hollingshead decided to do. And here’s what he came up with: chasing storms. Severe storms. And filming them. The result is a very cool website called Extreme Instability, which documents (to the sound of a thumping heart in the background; nice touch, Mike) Hollingshead’s adventures with weather. How did he get into chasing thunderstorms, tornados and anything else that goes bang all over the midwest? Here’s his explanation:

“As a kid I would stay up at night during a thunderstorm and watch the lightning out the window until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. I have always loved severe weather. In my early years I would make my father drive me to the top of a hill in town when a storm was approaching. One of us would usually get scared(usually me) before it got to us and head back down the hill for home. It wasn’t long before he was the one getting back in the car first, wanting to head for home. Then I got my license and could go watch any storm I wanted.”

And what keeps him at it?

“The feeling of catching your first tornado can’t be beat. You are on a high for a few days. The thought of never being one of the few who gets to see a tornado doesn’t have to cross your mind anymore. You are now one of the few. This lasts for a bit, then you think, I have to see another one.”

Hey, it’s better than being addicted to reality TV. Check out Mike’s site, which has tons of pics and video, as well as some pretty gripping accounts of chasing–and being chased–by Mother Nature…



Hairy Hobby: “You can relax Mom. I’m, umm, at home, sitting on my couch. I swear…”