Hiking can be a pure delight but
in the heat of summer you should take some safety measures before hitting the
trails. It is very much expected that you will come across high temperatures
which will make your body loose fluids rapidly. Thus, it is essential that you keep
yourself hydrated during the hike by bringing enough water with you. You should
also guard your eyes and skin against the harmful UV rays and remember that the
weather may change fast – it is no excitement to be dressed for warm sunshine
if a cold rainstorm comes up. In the post some tips on summer hiking to make
your hikes in the heat of summer pleasant and flourishing are explained. But,
if you are new to hiking, it may not be the best idea to go hiking on very warm
and sunny days as such weather will put added strain on the body.
- Bring adequate water
In high temperatures your body
will lose more fluids via perspiration and thus it is fundamental that you
bring adequate water with you. You should also drink regularly all through the
hike to stop your body from dehydration. The latest research estimate that if
you lose 5% of your body weight in fluids, your performance decreases by no
less than 30% and it does take some time to regain strength after being dehydrated
thoroughly.
- Get an initial start
In summer it is not rare to see individuals
starting their hikes at 5am. Getting an early start means lower temperatures
and lower temperatures mean lower water requirements and less strain on the
body. Another benefit of starting early, is that the trails are less crowded
which allows you to set your own pace. Starting early is principally suggested
for climbing mountains as the ascent is much more physically demanding than the
descent. It makes sense to do the hard work in the morning at convenient
temperatures and then enjoy the descent with the sun high above your head. But,
there is one thing you should remember if you decide to start early. If the
trail is grassy, it will possibly be wet due to the night dew – and few things
are more annoying than having wet feet during a hike. In such cases you may
want to wear water-resistant trekking shoes.
- Wear the right clothes and footwear
To be at ease on trails in summer
you should wear right clothing and footwear. If the temperatures are high,
your base layer and hiking pants should be quick-drying and thin
as they will most likely get soaked with sweat. But, all your garments should
also block the damaging sun rays to guard your skin against sun burns. Also remember
that long pants will guard better against insect bites if you are hiking close
to lakes or swamps. When it comes to footwear, you should avoid excessively
insulated hiking boots and rather wear a pair of lightweight and breathable
hiking shoes or boots, based on the topography.
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