Tips to Hike in the Heat

Tips to Hike in the Heat

Summer is a time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! But, if you live in any southern state you know it can be very hard to enjoy the summer with temps hitting over 100 degrees. I wanted to share some tips to help you hike in the heat so you don't get heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, cramping, or sun burn. There are definitely ways to still enjoy your hike even in the midst of the heat.

Clothing:
1. Hat
2. Sunglasses
3. Looses fitting clothes and  light colored clothes
4. Neck gaiter
5. Wool or synthetic socks
6. UPF-rated clothing
7. Wear longer sleeve and pants for more sensitive skin groups

Food and Water:
1. Bring more water than you think you need: Drink at least 1/2 liter of water per hour but it may be more depending on how strenuous your hike is, your body, and the weather conditions.
2. If water isn't hydrating you enough bring electrolyte drinks, or electrolyte powders/tablets to throw into your water 
3. For snacks, I would suggest something that wouldn't melt like nuts, seeds, or dry fruit

Gear:
1. Go back to our article on what to bring on a hike
2. Specifically with the sunblock: Lather up and reapply every 2 hours
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Terrain:
1. Only go out for a short period of time if it is in the middle of the day
2. Try to find shaded areas to go under
3. Hike in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak sun hours
4. Hike near water so you can take a dip if you're feeling hot or dip some of your clothing in the water to help you cool off

I hope these tips find you well and still give you hope to get outdoors even in the heat. If you do start to experience any fatigue, cramping, nausea, headaches, etc. please get yourself to a safe location and try to cool down as quickly as you can, hydrate, and or go to the hospital! By knowing where you're hiking and preparing ahead of time will help you to have a safe and fun hiking experience.