[pct-l] Umbrellas

Tue Jan 22 14:01:32 CST 2008

It doesn’t matter whether you cut slits or not, the sun is still beating on
your head, and you will feel it.  Perhaps you, like Brick and my husband,
are very tolerant of heat and don’t mind this.  It simply slays me when I am
trying to do a challenging physical activity (I’ve been known to sit under a
bush, panting like an animal). 

I have a real hard time with heat escaping from my head when it’s hot. I
wear visors rather than hats for sun protection because of this.  In fact, I
never wear my bike helmet when climbing on my mountainbike because I
overheat, despite the ample ventilation in the helmet (I bring it along to
wear on descents). But oh, my, sweet, merciful shade makes such a big
difference, even if it’s only partial. It’s funny how much you come to
treasure a spot of shade or a puff of clouds that obscure the sun and make
it stop beating on you.

Like I said, many, many hikers obtain, create or modify umbrellas here.  If
you don’t think you’ll want one, start without it, or bounce it ahead.  It
may be something you only want for So Cal, so buying a really cheap one that
you doctor up with mylar creates something you won’t mind throwing away or
leaving in a hiker box.

Another non-umbrella option is to take siestas during the heat of the day,
and hike at night or at least in the cooler morning and evening hours.  Some
hikers rig shade shelters out of mylar (or other materials) using their
trekking poles and line to wait out the worst of the heat. 

L-Rod

   _____  

From: Patrick Beggan [mailto:meta474 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:48 AM
To: Donna Saufley; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Umbrellas

So it's a question of ventilation? Why not just cut some slits in the body
of your hat, above the brim? Seems it would be smarter to have the somewhat
lesser coverage of a wide-brimmed hat and hike only in the early morning and
afternoon (thus avoiding most of the bad direct radiation anyway), sitting
out the hottest part of the day in the shade. That's how the Bedouin do it
anyway. Save on weight and discomfort and simply re-arrange your hiking
hours.

On Jan 22, 2008, at 2:41 PM, Donna Saufley wrote:

Just another one of so many choices that make everyone different and their
hike and preferences unique to them.

Though I haven’t done any desert sections in the heat and therefore have not
had need for an umbrella, if I were to hike the desert when it’s hot I would
consider giving an umbrella (and hands-free holder) a try.  It’s astonishing
how much cooler it is in the shade when the sun is blazing hot.  If you’re
wearing a hat only, the sun beats directly on your head, albeit through your
hat, and you are essentially feeling all the heat because it’s directly on
you.  If you elevate that boundary, and keep the sun from actually reaching
you, you will not have the sun on your head at all and presumably be much
cooler.  And, as Wheeew said, heat can better escape from your head. 

Many hikers start without umbrellas, and we’ve had fairly large numbers of
hikers buying/making/outfitting mylar umbrellas at Hiker Heaven every
season.  There must be good reason for it, and it may be worth experimenting
with. 

L-Rod

   _____  

From: HYPERLINK
"mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net"pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
[HYPERLINK
"mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net"mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Patrick Beggan
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:46 AM
To: JOHNNY J FARBER; HYPERLINK
"mailto:pct-l at backcountry.net"pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Umbrellas

What is this obsession with umbrellas? I mean, seriously, I'm not being a
troll here -- why do so many people like them? I tried it once and it wasn't
any different for me than a wide-brimmed hat and a good long-sleeve t-shirt
but considerably more weight since you generally need to still carry a hat
and a shirt anyway.

Most of the heat in the desert is reflected from the ground anyway so
overhead cover only helps the direct radiation. Doesn't seem worth it to me.

On Jan 22, 2008, at 1:02 PM, JOHNNY J FARBER wrote:

We followed the Jardine method of rubber banding the mylar to the umbrella
which worked great.  He recommended using the small rubber bands from an
orthodonist.  The wind turned our umbrellas inside out a few times, but most
of time they were lifesavers.  Campmor sells a metallic coated treking
umbrella 24.99--spf 50+--this is what we are using this year. 

JOURNELS---I would like to know the address of a user friendly journel site.
Despite the fear that all the comments have struck into my heart, I still
want to write a journel of our 2008 trip.  Just kidding about the fear--many
of the comments are helpful.  Besides I gave up fear (at least I don't let
it stop me) when I fought cancer in 2006.  Sharon "Free" (from fear &
cancer) Farber

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