[pct-l] Switchback's Anti Heat Recommendations

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

You know about hiking in the early  morning and late afternoon during really 
hot weather.  You take a nice  meritorious combat nap during mid day under 
your shelter.  Be sure to put a  pad under you to insulate yourself from the 
ground.
 
Here is what I would do if I were  going to hike in the heat with marginal 
water availability:
 
1.  GoLite.com Chrome Dome  umbrella with Switchback's world famous handsfree 
holder.  This will cut  down on your dehydration big time.
2.  SunPrecautions.com hat  with full drape, long sleeve super ventilated 
shirt, and hand mittens (back of  hands only).  May be their white ventilated 
pants too.
3.  Electrolyte mix for  water.  Drink and snack during walking.  Snacks 
should have some salt  to them.  Do not drink too much or too little.  Balance is 
the key for  your particular metabolism.
4.  Carry water in a waist and  backpack system.  The waist system I call the 
Bionic Hydration Integration  system.  I use bladders and bottles on my 
separate waist belt pack.   If I need more capacity, then I can carry some water in 
my backpack.  I  like this combination.  I do not like using the pack waist 
belt for  carrying heavy loads.  My particular pack does not have a waist belt  
(GoLite Breeze pack).  I like simple Platypus water holders  too.
5.  Another option for me is  to go my slightly heavier LuxuryLite.com 
external frame pack.  I can carry  lots of water in it, plus there is a Front Pouch 
option for it to carry even  more water.  I would still try to use waist pack 
system for carrying water  too.  The idea is to spread the water weight around 
and not just on my  back.
6.  Some type of bandana or  other clothing to wrap around my neck to keep it 
cool with water is very nice  too.
7.  A light mist system (_www.mistymate.com/cb02g.html)_ 
(http://www.mistymate.com/cb02g.html))  to  spray your face with water is fantastic on a hot 
trail.  It instantly cools  the air around your face by 20-30 degrees.  Heaven.  
You are hot  one minute and cool the next. 
 
I would go a light as I could with my gear to allow room for water  weight.  
This is a chance for you to look at your gear and really cut down  on weight.  
The above seven items are just ideas, but I know they work  too.  
 
The trail could be serious business this year with the heat and dry  areas.  
You will be amazed at how  unprepared hikers will be for the heat on the 
trail.  How poorly they  protect themselves and how they suffer unnecessarily.
 
Cheers, Switchback the Anti  Radiation and Hydration Hiker



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