Excellent advice, and words of wisdom. I live in Texas and it's hard to tell folks who move here that, yes, it may be nice in the winter, but in August we typically (and this year is greatly Atypical) get 100+ temps days in a row. In 2011 we had 77 days of 100+ temps with two days of 97 and 98 in the midst of that. At night, it was only getting down to the upper 80's or lower 90s, so wasn't cooling off. In climate like that, you need way more water than you think you do. And what you said about the temps dropping is oh so true. What's hard for some folks to process is that even if the temps are mild, say in the 70's, if you were hiking in the day when the temps were in the 90's, you body temp is up and the 70's will feel a whole lot colder. A perfect example of that, is this. I belong to a hammock camping group who every year has our annual "Butt Bake" where we go out and do a group hang at the end of July. A couple of years ago we were experiencing temps that were in the low 100's with "feels like" temps a lot higher than that. However on Saturday night, after a 103° day, a cold front moved through and the temps went down to ~69. We were all freezing. Why? Because our bodies had adapted to the heat and this sudden "cold" wasn't anything they were prepared for. Had we all had some form of insulation it wouldn't have seemed so bad, but as it was... Great vid and again, great advice! Cheers! DonP
Great information! Another excellent installment in your series of hiking tips. I want you to know how much I appreciate your videos. I plan to thru-hike the AT in 2018 with a start date in late February. Your channel has been an invaluable resource for me. Thank you again. Keep Hiking and God bless you!
Great advice FBO. there were at least 5 days I hiked in PA with temps over 100 and few water sources. And like you said, temps can drop and being wet can make you even colder if it rains - dangerous in any time of year. Thanks for always providing hikers with important info. Great job.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Loving your book! And thanks again for being a great viewer! (Here's Loner's book - www.amazon.com/Painted-Blazes-Hiking-Appalachian-Trail/dp/1545166315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502814453&sr=1-1&keywords=loner+appalachian+trail )
I worked 12 hour days in the Southwest, climbing in the iron of a bridge. The daily temperature ranged from 95 to 105 degrees. My tool belt weighed 32 pounds. I ate salt tablets, and drank as much water as I could hold every time I came near a water jug. I made a brim extension for my hard hat so zero sun came through, and dressed in shorts and large, loose, white dress shirts, which I bought at thrift shops. That job financed a trip into the Tropics, where the weather was even nicer. Good attitude will get you through, and whining will make you miserable. Here in Florida, I still like loose white shirts, and always wear a straw hat outdoors. When the weather gets warm you just have to slow down, but keep moving. Thanks for another great video.
Such an important installment in your series. Until I backpacked in the N.D. badlands (T.R. National Park North Unit) one Memorial Day weekend, I had never really experienced hiking in hot and very DRY weather. Even though I was carrying a lot of water (a burden in itself, but there are few potable water sources in the park) and drinking it, the extremely low humidity combined with the heat to suck it out of me faster than I could replenish it. Recognizing the early symptoms of dehydration, I cut that trip short and it took a couple days for the effects to fully wear off.
Great video. I took my first 100 mile section in June, 2016. There definitely was not water, water everywhere. Also I have had water problems on short section hikes in PA.
As usual, great advice! I've hiked twice w/o my fleece (I won't need it, it's too hot) WRONG! Being cold/wet on the AT, even in August heat is no fun. I won't make that mistake again. Thx for a great vid!
This past weekend I hiked 10 miles in the Florida Everglades in about 4 hours at 93F. The last quarter was the hardest. I had plenty of water and could make more if I needed it. Later that night I started to cramp up. I should have taken a longer break but that had it's challenges too
No shade either, I bet. I lived many years in Miami. Adding electrolytes might have helped. I was hiking a similar hike in Ga. a couple of times a week last summer. It had a lot of shade which helps.
+barbara the section of trail I was on had small pockets of shade. When I got to nobels camp there was plenty of shade but it was muddy and there were no trees for my hammock. I had taken some electrolytes and it was enjoyable when my water was cold but by the half way point the water was warm and drinking it made me feel like I was full. Even so it was refreshing to swish around.
Northern GA trails typically are very shady. The AT (starting in GA) isn't called "the green tunnel" for nothing. Only areas in Florida with hardwood trees have that type of shade in Florida.Certainly not common in Everglades AKA "the Sea of Grass." I guess salt tablets are a possibility. Ugh. Actually I'd stay home in August in Florida. Ga. is bad enough.
I wish I had seen this video (and Dan Conway’s) before my recent trip to Big Bend State Park. Poor clothing choices, starting the hike too late and not taking enough breaks led to me getting heat exhaustion (nausea/cramping/light headed/elevated heart rate.) I drank 4.5 liters of water and was still dehydrated. Luckily, our group found a shady canyon to recover in and a nearby spring to replenish our water supply. We cut our trip short and hiked back out early (before sunrise) the next morning. Lessons learned: start early, rest often, cut your trip short if need be and bring lots of water!
A really great video of the dangers of the heat in the summer. When I was young in High School we would often get away for the weekend on the AT. Only a few times did I go in the summer. "Wow, there is just no way to get out of this heat." And: "What! The spring is dry!" It seems that the heat didn't affect me as much as it does now but I still didn't like it.
I talk about that at the end of this video -- ruclips.net/video/f_FHEzzTIVs/видео.html -- Also, the AT Conservancy has this web page about high water -- www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-document-library/Safety%20Tips%20for%20Fording%20Streams%20and%20Rivers.pdf -- And thanks for watching!
Before I go I always check on the water situation along the route. One thing Florida has and that is plenty of water sources. . Not only in hot temps but even in the cooler or cold temperatures you need a lot of water. I'm a ultralight hiker ( age and medical demands that ) and do not and will not skimp on the water. As far as the ultralight weight , water weight does not count towards the base weight Double check on the suns reaction ( UV Rays ) to any medication I might be taking. If any adverse effects then I take corrective action , sunblock or long sleeves and slacks and always a good hat. Most of all I tend to stay off trail during June , July , August and even September. During those times the temperature is high with a heat index in the triple digits and 100% humidity here in Florida. All I'm going to say about the bug situation at those times is ....BAD !!!! I hike and camp for pleasure and when it is nice to be out there which leads me to this thought. . I figured that those months caused someone to create Air Conditioning so why not enjoy their creation. Heck the cooler air is Heat Exhaustion , Stoke , Sunburn , Mosquito and Tick free.
Agreed - Water is not part of the base weight, and that's why I can carry quite a bit of water. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
Hiking in hot weather? After working in Afghanistan, I love hot weather. Off course I would not recommend an action as drastic as that lol. Ice good video Flak.
Your picture of cooked noodles was accompanied by narrative of skipping a meal to preserve the water. What's important to note that eating anything requires water to aid in digestion. Else digestion will take from the body. And as seen on ALONE and NAKED AND AFRAID and WILDERNESS CHALLENGE you can go a while without a meal and far less without water.
I once read in a survival manual to avoid eating if there's no water. My objective is mainly to delay any waterless discomfort as long as possible. Keep hikin' and thanks again for being a great viewer!
I blame the ultralight movement, a person's need to brag to the point of lying, and too much ignorance for why people don't understand the need for water on hikes. Also, laziness is a huge problem in everything people in the first world do, and when it comes to outdoor activities laziness kills. My motto is it's far better to be heavy than to be dead, and staying properly hydrated prevents injuries and cramps that can cause injuries more than carrying the extra weight will. You just have to accept that or you probably shouldn't hike. You have to pack and be able to carry more water than you think you'll ever need. Other hikers need to tell people the truth about how much water they realistically consume in hot and/or humid weather. But there is no cure for being lazy, and that is going to take some people's lives every year no matter what.
I have concerns about advice coming from some thru-hikers (a subgroup of ultralight hikers.) Yes they might not need to be as concerned over water (and insects) when they hike in Georgia in in early Spring. Hikers on the same trails in August are going to encounter a very different set of circumstances. If only some of these thru-hikers were less dogmatic.
I can agree with that. A month or two later in areas like GA can mean the difference between needing slightly less than a liter for a day on the trail, or 3-4 liters in that same section. I'm more iffy on what to think about thru-hikers though. You can find many who are more reasonable when it comes to their gear choices. I've spoken to many who aren't all that fanatical about shaving every gram. I've also talked with ones who were more dogmatic like you said. Personally, I'm not against sacrificing weight if the lighter choice will do everything you need your gear to do. But I don't mess around when it comes to unknowns like water.
Comfort and efficiency are two things I look for in my gear. I dont want to spend time waiting for dinner with an alcohol stove. Get the water boiling and be done with it. Stove set up weighs more so I am in the sack before others are starting to wash eating utensils. I get a sleeping bag that will more than cover the temperature to which I will be sleeping. I am able to regulate sleeping bag warmth just like a thermostat at home. With out the ability to regulate the comfort of being warm, I will freeze. I agree on the water consumption is at an all time high on hot and humid day. Not several liters but many many many liters!
I think you might have missed the point about ultralight. In fact there are many benefits including the effort required to drag your packs around. There is more than one side effect from hot weather. Dehydration is not the same as heat stroke.
Richard Bucker The effort required to carry gear is highly subjective. If a person is in poor physical condition and/or injured then even an extremely light load may be too much for them to carry for any distance. Obviously, the opposite is going to be the case for a person who is in better to prime condition and not injured. This doesn't even take into account a person's mental state which changes their perception of effort entirely regardless of other factors. What I blame the ultralight movement for is not calling out those who have an irrational obsession with keeping their gear weight low. This can and I'm sure has caused injuries and deaths, end of story. One of the major causes of heat stroke is dehydration, and keeping your water cool helps regulate body temperature which also helps to prevent heat stroke. Many, I would say a large majority of, ultralight backpackers don't use hydration bladders,. I understand that many of them can't use them with their backpacks, but in my experience they work really well at keeping you in both plenty of water, and keeping that water cooler for longer. That is just one of many sacrifices I am unwilling to make for less "effort".
It's amazing how the heat takes the energy right out of you. I'll take 30 or 40 degrees any day over 90 or 100 for backpacking. Thanks.
And thanks for watching!
Excellent advice, and words of wisdom. I live in Texas and it's hard to tell folks who move here that, yes, it may be nice in the winter, but in August we typically (and this year is greatly Atypical) get 100+ temps days in a row. In 2011 we had 77 days of 100+ temps with two days of 97 and 98 in the midst of that. At night, it was only getting down to the upper 80's or lower 90s, so wasn't cooling off. In climate like that, you need way more water than you think you do. And what you said about the temps dropping is oh so true. What's hard for some folks to process is that even if the temps are mild, say in the 70's, if you were hiking in the day when the temps were in the 90's, you body temp is up and the 70's will feel a whole lot colder. A perfect example of that, is this. I belong to a hammock camping group who every year has our annual "Butt Bake" where we go out and do a group hang at the end of July. A couple of years ago we were experiencing temps that were in the low 100's with "feels like" temps a lot higher than that. However on Saturday night, after a 103° day, a cold front moved through and the temps went down to ~69. We were all freezing. Why? Because our bodies had adapted to the heat and this sudden "cold" wasn't anything they were prepared for. Had we all had some form of insulation it wouldn't have seemed so bad, but as it was...
Great vid and again, great advice! Cheers! DonP
Thanks for sharing that and thanks a million for watching!
Great information! Another excellent installment in your series of hiking tips. I want you to know how much I appreciate your videos. I plan to thru-hike the AT in 2018 with a start date in late February. Your channel has been an invaluable resource for me. Thank you again. Keep Hiking and God bless you!
Glad you liked the video and thanks again for being a great viewer!
Great advice FBO. there were at least 5 days I hiked in PA with temps over 100 and few water sources. And like you said, temps can drop and being wet can make you even colder if it rains - dangerous in any time of year. Thanks for always providing hikers with important info. Great job.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Loving your book! And thanks again for being a great viewer! (Here's Loner's book - www.amazon.com/Painted-Blazes-Hiking-Appalachian-Trail/dp/1545166315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502814453&sr=1-1&keywords=loner+appalachian+trail )
I worked 12 hour days in the Southwest, climbing in the iron of a bridge. The daily temperature ranged from 95 to 105 degrees. My tool belt weighed 32 pounds. I ate salt tablets, and drank as much water as I could hold every time I came near a water jug. I made a brim extension for my hard hat so zero sun came through, and dressed in shorts and large, loose, white dress shirts, which I bought at thrift shops.
That job financed a trip into the Tropics, where the weather was even nicer. Good attitude will get you through, and whining will make you miserable.
Here in Florida, I still like loose white shirts, and always wear a straw hat outdoors. When the weather gets warm you just have to slow down, but keep moving. Thanks for another great video.
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks again for being a great viewer!
Such an important installment in your series. Until I backpacked in the N.D. badlands (T.R. National Park North Unit) one Memorial Day weekend, I had never really experienced hiking in hot and very DRY weather. Even though I was carrying a lot of water (a burden in itself, but there are few potable water sources in the park) and drinking it, the extremely low humidity combined with the heat to suck it out of me faster than I could replenish it. Recognizing the early symptoms of dehydration, I cut that trip short and it took a couple days for the effects to fully wear off.
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks again for being such a great viewer!
Excellent video. I always go heavy on water. Thanks for sharing !
And thank you for watching!
always enjoy your wisdom - keep them coming
Thanks again for watching!
Just a handful of days without rain where I live :D Greetings from Poland!
Great job anyways, thumbs up, thanks for the wise words!
Glad you liked it and thanks for watching!
Great video. I took my first 100 mile section in June, 2016. There definitely was not water, water everywhere. Also I have had water problems on short section hikes in PA.
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
Thank you... I enjoy your videos immensely!
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
As usual, great advice! I've hiked twice w/o my fleece (I won't need it, it's too hot) WRONG! Being cold/wet on the AT, even in August heat is no fun. I won't make that mistake again. Thx for a great vid!
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
As always well researched. That's why I subscribe.
And thanks for being a great subscriber!
This past weekend I hiked 10 miles in the Florida Everglades in about 4 hours at 93F. The last quarter was the hardest. I had plenty of water and could make more if I needed it. Later that night I started to cramp up. I should have taken a longer break but that had it's challenges too
No shade either, I bet. I lived many years in Miami. Adding electrolytes might have helped. I was hiking a similar hike in Ga. a couple of times a week last summer. It had a lot of shade which helps.
+barbara the section of trail I was on had small pockets of shade. When I got to nobels camp there was plenty of shade but it was muddy and there were no trees for my hammock. I had taken some electrolytes and it was enjoyable when my water was cold but by the half way point the water was warm and drinking it made me feel like I was full. Even so it was refreshing to swish around.
Northern GA trails typically are very shady. The AT (starting in GA) isn't called "the green tunnel" for nothing. Only areas in Florida with hardwood trees have that type of shade in Florida.Certainly not common in Everglades AKA "the Sea of Grass." I guess salt tablets are a possibility. Ugh. Actually I'd stay home in August in Florida. Ga. is bad enough.
Excellent-thank you!
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Flatbrokeoutside, Great video!!! Trowel is going with me!!!
That's the spirit we like around here! And thanks for watching!
I wish I had seen this video (and Dan Conway’s) before my recent trip to Big Bend State Park. Poor clothing choices, starting the hike too
late and not taking enough breaks led to me getting heat exhaustion (nausea/cramping/light headed/elevated heart rate.) I drank 4.5 liters of water and was still
dehydrated. Luckily, our group found a shady canyon to recover in and a nearby spring to replenish our water supply. We cut our trip short and hiked back out early (before sunrise) the next morning. Lessons learned: start early, rest often, cut your trip short if need be and bring lots of water!
Glad everybody got home OK - You tell an educational story and I thank you for sharing it! And thanks a million for being a viewer!
When I'm out section hiking the AT the question I ask/hear most often is, "What's the water situation like up ahead"?
I have asked that same question myself! And thanks again for being a great viewer!
Yuma, Arizona area is the hottest part. Dry out there to.
I bet it is dry there. Thanks again for watching!
A really great video of the dangers of the heat in the summer. When I was young in High School we would often get away for the weekend on the AT. Only a few times did I go in the summer. "Wow, there is just no way to get out of this heat." And: "What! The spring is dry!" It seems that the heat didn't affect me as much as it does now but I still didn't like it.
Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
Do you have a video that addresses flash flooding on the AT?
I talk about that at the end of this video -- ruclips.net/video/f_FHEzzTIVs/видео.html -- Also, the AT Conservancy has this web page about high water --
www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-document-library/Safety%20Tips%20for%20Fording%20Streams%20and%20Rivers.pdf -- And thanks for watching!
Before I go I always check on the water situation along the route. One thing Florida has and that is plenty of water sources. . Not only in hot temps but even in the cooler or cold temperatures you need a lot of water. I'm a ultralight hiker ( age and medical demands that ) and do not and will not skimp on the water. As far as the ultralight weight , water weight does not count towards the base weight
Double check on the suns reaction ( UV Rays ) to any medication I might be taking. If any adverse effects then I take corrective action , sunblock or long sleeves and slacks and always a good hat. Most of all I tend to stay off trail during June , July , August and even September. During those times the temperature is high with a heat index in the triple digits and 100% humidity here in Florida. All I'm going to say about the bug situation at those times is ....BAD !!!!
I hike and camp for pleasure and when it is nice to be out there which leads me to this thought. . I figured that those months caused someone to create Air Conditioning so why not enjoy their creation. Heck the cooler air is Heat Exhaustion , Stoke , Sunburn , Mosquito and Tick free.
Agreed - Water is not part of the base weight, and that's why I can carry quite a bit of water. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
Hiking in hot weather? After working in Afghanistan, I love hot weather. Off course I would not recommend an action as drastic as that lol. Ice good video Flak.
Keep hikin' and thanks for watching!
After working in Florida and Hawaii, I want to move to Alaska.
Your picture of cooked noodles was accompanied by narrative of skipping a meal to preserve the water. What's important to note that eating anything requires water to aid in digestion. Else digestion will take from the body. And as seen on ALONE and NAKED AND AFRAID and WILDERNESS CHALLENGE you can go a while without a meal and far less without water.
I once read in a survival manual to avoid eating if there's no water. My objective is mainly to delay any waterless discomfort as long as possible. Keep hikin' and thanks again for being a great viewer!
🥵☔️🥶
I blame the ultralight movement, a person's need to brag to the point of lying, and too much ignorance for why people don't understand the need for water on hikes. Also, laziness is a huge problem in everything people in the first world do, and when it comes to outdoor activities laziness kills.
My motto is it's far better to be heavy than to be dead, and staying properly hydrated prevents injuries and cramps that can cause injuries more than carrying the extra weight will. You just have to accept that or you probably shouldn't hike.
You have to pack and be able to carry more water than you think you'll ever need. Other hikers need to tell people the truth about how much water they realistically consume in hot and/or humid weather.
But there is no cure for being lazy, and that is going to take some people's lives every year no matter what.
I have concerns about advice coming from some thru-hikers (a subgroup of ultralight hikers.) Yes they might not need to be as concerned over water (and insects) when they hike in Georgia in in early Spring. Hikers on the same trails in August are going to encounter a very different set of circumstances. If only some of these thru-hikers were less dogmatic.
I can agree with that. A month or two later in areas like GA can mean the difference between needing slightly less than a liter for a day on the trail, or 3-4 liters in that same section.
I'm more iffy on what to think about thru-hikers though. You can find many who are more reasonable when it comes to their gear choices. I've spoken to many who aren't all that fanatical about shaving every gram. I've also talked with ones who were more dogmatic like you said.
Personally, I'm not against sacrificing weight if the lighter choice will do everything you need your gear to do. But I don't mess around when it comes to unknowns like water.
Comfort and efficiency are two things I look for in my gear. I dont want to spend time waiting for dinner with an alcohol stove. Get the water boiling and be done with it. Stove set up weighs more so I am in the sack before others are starting to wash eating utensils. I get a sleeping bag that will more than cover the temperature to which I will be sleeping. I am able to regulate sleeping bag warmth just like a thermostat at home. With out the ability to regulate the comfort of being warm, I will freeze. I agree on the water consumption is at an all time high on hot and humid day. Not several liters but many many many liters!
I think you might have missed the point about ultralight. In fact there are many benefits including the effort required to drag your packs around. There is more than one side effect from hot weather. Dehydration is not the same as heat stroke.
Richard Bucker The effort required to carry gear is highly subjective. If a person is in poor physical condition and/or injured then even an extremely light load may be too much for them to carry for any distance. Obviously, the opposite is going to be the case for a person who is in better to prime condition and not injured. This doesn't even take into account a person's mental state which changes their perception of effort entirely regardless of other factors.
What I blame the ultralight movement for is not calling out those who have an irrational obsession with keeping their gear weight low. This can and I'm sure has caused injuries and deaths, end of story.
One of the major causes of heat stroke is dehydration, and keeping your water cool helps regulate body temperature which also helps to prevent heat stroke.
Many, I would say a large majority of, ultralight backpackers don't use hydration bladders,. I understand that many of them can't use them with their backpacks, but in my experience they work really well at keeping you in both plenty of water, and keeping that water cooler for longer. That is just one of many sacrifices I am unwilling to make for less "effort".