At hike’s end, every person on the trip couldn’t wait for the next hike to begin.

Why?

Because we worked with the heat rather than against it. On the hike in, a 4-mile walk with plenty of climbing exposed to the sun, we stopped at a water crossing, dropped our backs and cooled off in the stream. We took frequent breaks in the shade. We took advantage of the occasional breeze that penetrated the trees. We took our time.

When you see ads for hiking boots or daypacks or hiking clothes, you see pictures of happy people wearing fleece, perhaps a knit hat, framed against the colors of fall and a brilliant blue sky. Just looking at the ad you can tell the temperature is 64 degrees — perfect weather for hiking. Rarely do such ads show someone bathed in sweat and swathed in cobwebs under a milky sky. The summer hiking experience just doesn’t sell. Which is a shame, because there’s so much to experience in  summer.

With a few precautions you’ll find it’s not a bad time to be on the trail. Today, as we head into the first official weekend of summer, we share these hot weather hiking tips from our book, “Let’s GetHiking!  A Quick and Comprehensive Guide for the Aspiring Hiker.”

Drink up. Rather, drink, drink, drink up. And not just while you’re hiking. A good hydration program is ongoing. For instance, two days before a big hike I make sure to have a water bottle with me at all times. I’m not drinking constantly, but its constant presence reminds me to drink more. On the trail, be sure to have plenty of water with you. Your two main options:

• Camelbak: This is a bladder that straps to your back (it’s inside a daypack); you drink from it through a tube and mouthpiece. Advantage: It’s extremely convenient making it more likely that you’ll drink. (I went through 100 milliliters of water during a two-hour mountain bike race recently; had I used bottles I would have consumed about half that.) Disadvantage: They’re a little more expensive (the basic Camelback is around $50) and because they rest against your back, the water tends to heat up on hot days.
• Fanny pack water bottles: For training purposes, a minimalist fanny pack holding two bottles works well. My favorite is the DoubleShot (available at REI for about $35), which holds your basics (car keys, cell phone, an energy bar or two) and a pair of 21-ounce water bottles. (The bottles slip into the pack at an angle, making them easier to access and less inhibiting to your stride.)
• Tip: Whichever route you go, keep the water cold. For the Camelbak, that could mean loading it up with ice, then topping it off with water; for the water bottles, I like to fill them three quarters full the evening before and stick them in the freezer. Top ‘em off with water before heading out the next day. In both cases you should have tasty water for most of your hike.

The cotton exception. There’s a saying in the outdoor world: Cotton kills. (I know, it’s always seemed like such a friendly fabric.) It’s homicidal appellation comes from the fact that if you sweat in cotton, cotton keeps the wetness close to your body. If its cool to cold out, that wetness can send a dangerous chill through your body. That’s the same reason why cotton isn’t such a bad thing in summer. Your cotton T-shirt gets sweaty wet, it sticks to you, it helps cool your body. Kinda like a big wet body bandana.

Bring extra socks. Along about mile 5 on a hot, humid summer hike you might start hearing squishing with every footstep. Wet feet quickly lead to blisters. Swap out those socks before they cause trouble.

Body Glide. I’ll try to put this delicately: on a hot, sweat-inducing day, parts of your wet body my be in constant contact with your wet clothing. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Before long, you’ve got some serious chaffing going on. Applying a lubricant to your more susceptible body parts can greatly reduce the risk of rubbing yourself raw. A favorite of mine is Body Glide, which works like a roll-on deodorant and does a good job of minimizing friction.

* * *

Let’s GetHiking!

The 109-page “Let’s GetHiking! A Quick and Comprehensive Guide for the Aspiring Hiker,” covers the basics of getting started on the trail, from what to wear on your first hike to trail etiquette to the benefits of trekking poles. Learn more here.

GetHiking! Southeast Podcast

This week on the GetHiking! Southeast Podcast: Our 5 Favorite Group Campsites. Give a listen here.

The post Coping with heat: Don’t let the summer sideline you appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Tuesday at lunch I headed to a favorite local wild area for a two-mile hike. Five minutes in and I was a glow: my eyes stung with sweat, my shirt stuck to me, I’d even collected a cobweb or two. Ah, the return of hot weather hiking. 

I love a good hike in the heat. In large part that’s because not everyone else does. Head out on a day when the temperature’s in the upper 80s, as it was Tuesday, and there’s a good chance you won’t see another soul on the trail. But the summer forest is a whole other world: it’s teaming with life, yet it’s oddly quiet. It’s the best time of year to find a secluded spot and plant yourself for 15 minutes and quietly observe the world around you. 

As the days heat up, though, a lot of you are inclined to shelve your hiking boots until fall. Don’t. Every year around this time we show you how to embrace hiking in the heat. Our thoughts on the subject follow. 

Tips for cool hiking

Timing is important. Evening is good: you’d be surprised how much the temperature drops between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and how how you’ll notice it on the trail. Early morning is good as well: Hit the trail at 7 a.m., be done by 11 and you can get in a decent hike before the temperature gets much above 80.

Distance. One concession you might make is the length of your hikes. If you love a good 10-miler in winter, maybe a 5- to 7-mile hike is more appropriate in hot weather.

Location. Select trails with high canopies: leaf cover can trim about 10 degrees from the heat. Also look for trails with minimal understory to allow better access to whatever breeze may be available. 

Location, location. Trails that are wide, preferably double track, provide superior air flow. And on early morning hikes, you’ll be less likely to Swiffer up a raft of spider webs on these wider paths.

Location, location, location. Especially at lower elevations, hike along water. If you start to heat up, shed the hiking shoes and wade in, and splash a little over your head and neck.

Dress appropriately. In summer, cotton can be your friend (for the very reason it is your enemy in winter): Cotton absorbs sweat and keeps it close to your skin; on hot days, this works as a personal air conditioning system

Hydrate! Of course you’re carrying water; make sure your water is cold. If you use a hydration pack, fill the bladder with ice, then water. If you use bottles: the night before, fill them 3/4 full and put them in the freezer, then top off before heading out. Going for 5 miles or more? Take an electrolyte drink (or water stir-in) to replenish your body with vital minerals including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. 

Listen to your body. Stop, drop, and rest if you have any of these symptoms: you sweat more than usual, you have muscle pain or spasms, you feel nauseous or dizzy or get a headache, or have any of the heat-released illness symptoms you’ll find listed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link below. Take further action as noted at the CDC site. 

Prepare for pests. Things that fly and bite and spread rashes are a few of our least favorite things about summer hiking. But if you plan ahead and prepare, you can make them a little less pesky. See our handy link below.

Back to location. Hike in the mountains! They’re cool in more ways than one. 

Don’t let the summer heat sideline you. Follow our advice and keep hiking!  

Happy Trails,

Joe

Cool summer hiking

Join us on one of our cool camping weekends this summer:

GetCamping! Mother’s Day Weekend Camping Outing, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Raleigh, May 11-12. On the shores of Falls Lake, we’ll have a hike along the water and two kayaks for paddling an intimate cove on the lake. While the days are warming, the nights remain ideal for sleeping out. Learn more and sign up here.

GetHiking! Classic Weekend: Lake James State Park and Fonta Flora State Trail, Lake James State Park, Nebo, May 31-June 2.A day of hiking (on a state trail that will one day link Morganton and Asheville), a day swimming and paddling. The perfect way to welcome summer. Learn more and sign up here.

GetCamping! Father’s Day Camping Outing, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Apex, June 15-16. Paddling, hiking, frolicking in the surf … plus, we do all the cooking. Learn more and sign up here. 

GetHiking! Classic Escapes: Standing Indian and the AT, Standing Indian Recreation Area, Nantahala National Forest, Franklin, August 15-18. Learn more and sign up here.

The post We’re hot for hiking! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.