What kind of HEAT will you hike in?

“I think this may have been addressed in an earlier thread, but I'm too lazy to dig it up.

So, what kind of heat will you endure for summer hikes?

It's been a pretty constant 90 degrees plus with extremely high humidity in southern Indiana. Pretty normal for this time of year.

Does anyone hike in these conditions? Just curious, I'm going through hiking withdrawal.

Thinking about taking my inflatable boat out on the lake this weekend for some paddeling. That way I can at least drop in the water when I get hot.”

“In these temps, I stick to the canoe and raft.

The heat is one concern, the ticks, chiggers and horseflys are the real reason I don't hike in the summer.”

“To avoid hiking in the heat, I have been going up to Michigan lately. A lot cooler there.

To answer your question though, I have not done any overnighters in anything hotter than 90 degrees. Too much to worry about and I don't want to sleep in sweat puddles. Have done a bunch of day hikes beginning early in the morning and ending around 10-11. Still somewhat cool this time and people in the campground are still sleeping so trails are empty.

You have a state park nearby? I know we talked about Clifty Falls, but I seen to remember you saying it's a good drive for you. Any other place to hike closer?”

“WK, we're smack in the middle of the Hoosier NF. Also close to Patoka Lake and Lincoln State Park. Morning hikes are a good idea. May try that Saturday.

You and CMB come down sometime. We'll do a morning hike then hang out at the beach at Tipsaw Lake.”

“Sounds good. I just got into an argument with my wife though about all of my unfinished projects around the house. Says that because I backpack too much, nothing gets done now. Had to remind her that I have been out 3 times since March. I guess it means that she doesn't want doing it period. Let's see, backpacking or the wife? HHHUUUUMMMMM?”

“i don't mind hiking in hot conditions. I can tolerate heat pretty well as long as I have enough water. Hottest ever? I am not sure, but I think it was in the 90's.”

“I'm even further south than Chili...and going to the Sipsey in about an hour....Forcast is for high80/low nineties during the day, cooling to high60's/low70's at night.....It's doable, I just shave the weight and slow down, take breaks at the fords, and stay in the shade as much as possible...

don't choose between the BP or the wife...keep them both...each has their merits...”

“A wise person told me that you should get all your chores done THEN you can go out and play!

As far as heat...it is the humidity that gets to me.”

“That sucks. You just got to butter her up and do lots of nice things for her during the week, so you can hike on the weekend.

I guess I'm lucky. My wife is a hiker too. But right now she's six months pregnant and has a torn ACL and MCL so I'm on my tip-toes too.

Oh, well, By this time next year, she'll be all fixed and the baby will be old enough for short dayhikes.”

“Should I make her carry my pack?”

“107 in chattanooga memorial day last year...no shade...high humidity...screw that!...im thinking of going to the conecuh one night this weekend..but it's 90 now..and storming..at least the nights are cooling down again”

“I started my hiking in southern Arizona - so heat is not that big a deal for me. A lot of it is in your attitude. If you are having fun, the heat doesn't matter. As others have said, humidity makes it harder, but living in Maryland, we regularly hike in 90+ with 90% humidity. I can't not hike. I may do shorter hikes when it's really hot or really cold, or look for places with water so I can dip my kerchief in streams, but I still go out. On the PCT we were hiking in 100 degrees with no shade, but there we would wait out the noon hours in the shade of a bush, if we could find one. And after a while, we got used to the heat and didn't bother resting all that much.”

“Here in the SW in the summer we head to the high ground to escape the heat, or we drop into the canyons. I've hiked the canyons in Zion when it's been over 100. Of course there is lots of shade and water to keep you cool.”

“Anything over 50 degrees I try to avoid. My gear hibernates in the hot months. When it's misserable outside (Summer) I don't even think about BPing.”

“I like to go North when it gets too hot!

Fall Winter & Spring are the best times to backpack!

8)”

“Don't like heat. I sweat very easily. Snakes become more aggresive in the high temps. This is canoe trip time with some portages. When the temps cool off, hiking season begins. Only the city people & tourists hike in the heat of summer.”

“There is no "hiking season" you just bring different gear.”

“I like to hit the trails that have available water for weather like that. As long as there is water I'll hike. I also like to do night hiking trips when it's this hot.”

“Well I got out this morning between rains. We had small shower last night, enough to cool things down and nock the dust off. I went to Tipsaw Lake this morning in the HNF and did 7 miles in 2 hours. I surprised myself with the pace I set.

Temps were nice, stayed between 70 and 75, but humidity was high. My shirt was literally drenched by the time I got off the trail. I was home by a little after 9 this morning. Looks like rain now. We're supposed to get up to three inches today.

It was great to get out. Thanks WK for lighting a fire under my ass to get out early and put some miles in. It really felt good. Can't wait for fall.”

“Humidity is what drains my ass this time of year. I like getting out and having a good sweat but when I get to camp I want it to stop. I like to have a dry pair of undies and t shirt and socks for camp because my trail clothes are drenched. I sleep in a poly/nylon hammock this time of year and that really makes a difference. I've never used the thing where I didn't get chilled, even in the dog days of summer.”

“I hike all year round despite the heat, cold, snow, whatever! Since I have lost 57 pounds, I am cold natured and the summer heat doesn't bother me like it used to.”

“I'm with Katibug. I hike year round. I have hiked in 96 degree weather with high humidity. Hiked when it was so hot that the river was covered with steam since it was icy cold and the trail was like Hades. I found out that day why no one ever swam in that section of the river though it looks so nice! 55 degree water. I hike high in the mountains and early in the mornings to avoid the heat when its Summer. I also try to keep to shorter, easier hikes during the hot months. I also like to hike where there are good swimming holes so I can jump in and cool off then hit it again!”

“heat schmeat, as long as i'm out there i'd be happy....water is a must, but that pretty much goes for anytime of the year....”

“Hiking in the heat is no problem. I don't really feel warmed up till I'm sweating. Camping is a different story, especially with my two little ones.

Friday was a soaker just getting camp set up and it was still nasty and soupy hot by midnight. The kids kept waking up half awake and half asleep, talking nonsense and thrashing around. The inside of the tent was running with moisture and several times I just opened it up to mosquitos and everything else to cool us down.

We stuck it out and earned the bag night, but I think I prefer working hard to stay warm to doing nothing to try and stay cool.”

“Hi Handsome! Glad you-uns got out to have some camping time anyhow. :-) Swimming! Thats the cure for the heat. I work the next three nights then Wed. afternoon after a coupla winks I'm off to the river with tubes, snorkeling gear, etc to play. Some tub-o broke our rope swing into the river but Yay! Its fixed again! I think I can have time to do at least a coupla swings out into the river tomorrow when I wake up. I agree though.... the older I get the less I mind the cold hikes. Last winter I put on sufficient blubber to stay toasty. LOL”

“strat, have you even been out yet?”

“As long as you take care of the basics of hydration, sking protection, and not over taxing yourself, it's all an attitude adjustment. It's the heat and humindity that keeps the Californians out of the state.”

“It depends on the humidity, water supply, distance, scenery, and company for me. Heat doesn't really bother me and as long as my gear doesn't chafe too badly, I can stand some dampness from sweat. It's not really any different from hiking in the rain as far as comfort level.

I hiked into the Grand Canyon in June once. I also hiked in 96 degree weather in Eastern Kentucky (very humid!) once. Dunadan's right, it's attitude.”

“I don't like heat and humidity, but I can survive. I've hiked and bicycled at 105F air temp, but in NM, not much humidity. :)”

“It has been awfully humid here the last few days, and I hate it. Heat is okay, but heat and humidity is not the weather for me.”

“strat, have you even been out yet?"
2scoop


yes....i went outside several times today ...”

“Choose - backpacking

.....but I'm not the "Dr. Phil" of advice...


Kudos to those that can handle high humidity and heat while hiking.
I hate it!

I'd much rather hear a Gremiln 'fire peom' at 20 below than hike in 90 degree heat with skeeters blanketing me.

As usual, I'm with walkin'dude and CBM on this one.”

“I'll hike when the opportunity strikes...though I don't much care for Southern humidity in the summer. I'm a cool weather kind of guy.”

“I am not going to divorce my wife over this, it was just a joke (well kinda)

No problem John. I don't always get to go on weekend of multi day trips, so I just go to the nearest state park. If that does not work, I take the dog for an extended walk through the hood. People stare at me though. Thinkin I am a hobo or something.”

“LOL, you could mess with their heads by wrapping your nalgene in a brown paper bag instead of ductape :-)”

“LOL! I will try that next time! Put a sign on the back of my pack, "Woodstock or bust!"”

“This is a timely thread. Here's a picture of HoneyDog enduring the summer heat in her favorite way (I posted it on a fuego thread and didn't want it to go to waste).

”

“-40F (skiing or snowshoeing) to 100+ (hiking or biking)

:D

However, for hiking or biking I much prefer less than 80F, over -20 for XC skiing.”

“below 90.”

“I've been out in 95 deg with 97 humiditity.

It wasn't pleasant, but thank God for swimming holes.”

“On the trip I took that picture on I spent all afternoon sleeping under the tarp sick with sun poisoning. Took two Darvasets to put a dent in the head ache.”

“Smart dog.”

“I've gone in almost any weather, kinda like pathman's answer. But I must say that I'm loving this 10 to 15% humidity in Colorado compared to 80% humidity in the Carolinas!”

“Don't perfer the heat. Especially in the midwest with the humidity we can get.

We need to talk about the coldest we have ever spent the night out in! Mine was on a shoeshoe trip up in Canada. Night time low was -17 air temp. Wind chill would have been lower, but not to much. It was a very calm night.”

“I like the heat, so it doesn't matter. I think the hottest I've hiked in was around 100 degree...very hummid.

coldest: gosh i hate getting out of a warm sleeping bag when it's cold. ewwwwwww. Not really sure...coldest I've BACKPACKED in was around 10 degrees or so. that's it. I don't think I've ever hiked in colder weather.[at least i can't remember, and i am sure i would remember if I ever did]

now that i have a warm bag though...winter here i come.”

“It was down around 5 degrees on New Years Eve out here when I camped at Lake Helene. Wind chill would have been maybe 10 below i guess.... i didn't get out in the wind much.”

“I dont mind "hiking" in any type of weather, its the "sleeping". When its too hot and humid or below freezing, it makes a bag night suck!”

“the hottest would have to be when i was out in Arches for afew days, i think the temps were pushing 100 easily those days according to the weather reports. But that is a dry 100, take that 100 plus the humidity here in WI, and wuff! its a killer. damn humidity!! ;-)”

“117 degrees two years ago in Canyonlands and Lower Calf Creek Falls UT. Thank God for the Colorado river!! Girlfriend at the time was ready to kill me.”

“When I lived in Texas, I hiked a few times in 110F-115F temps...went through a LOT of water.”