Look, nobody likes waking up early Monday through Friday for work, and even fewer people like waking up early on the weekend – but if you don’t want to go for weeks without getting your boots dirty, you’re going to have to get an early start. 11AM to 2PM is usually when the sun is at it peaks, so if you can get most of your elevation gain over with before then you’re going to have a much nicer time on the hikes. Today was brutal. The temps were in the mid 30s and this was a dry hike....without any shade or water...but that's the terrain. You have to be able to hike in all sorts of weather conditions.
You might ask why I'm wearing long sleeves when it's so hot....long sleeves are actually your friend here. The more of your body you can shield from the sun, the happier you’ll be. Loose-fitting long sleeves and pants paired with a wide-brimmed hat will do wonders on a summer hike. Remember to shield your eyes with some UV-blocking sunglasses and slather that sunscreen on every exposed part of your body – especially if you’re hiking in these conditions . The sun is stronger and you’ll get burned faster – even more so if you’re constantly sweating it all off. Also, don’t wear cotton. Just don’t. Go with wool or wicking fabrics.
During most hiking, your body will lose about a liter of water every hour, and strenuous hiking in hot weather can more than double that amount. Be sure to bring more water than you think you’d need – and remember to sip often. Under most conditions, your body can only efficiently absorb about a half-liter of water every hour and in many cases chugging a bunch of water at once can actually do more harm than good. Remember – if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
