Hot Summer

[kgmolson]

What temp would you guys cosider too hot for hiking?

I always kind of say that anything over 100 is pretty hot, but would still consider going out in it... what do you guys think is too hot to hike?

[te_wa]

then go south.

[Jeffshadows]

???

[PaleoRob]

It's winter in the southern hemisphere when it's summer up here.

[Jeffshadows]

Oh, so it is; I wouldn't mind hiking on Easter Island, actually, come to think of it...

[te_wa]

no, no. go south, as in southern arizona. arent there numerous areas to hike down there that are constantly overlooked? everyone runs up to the "rim" in the summer, and its quite silly in a way because they are overlooking several fantastic hikes in the sky islands. Im also to blame. I hope to hit up Galiuros and S. Theresas and Huachucas and..... go south.

[Jeffshadows]

That's true. The Santa Ritas and Pinaleños are both great places to escape the heat...

[PaleoRob]

no, no. go south, as in southern arizona.

I prefer my interpretation.

[DarthStiller]

I love hiking up north also, and I didnt mean to disparage anyone who does, especially in the summer. Alot of people tend to completely rule out the heat hiking, and I think you miss out a bit if you don't even consider it. on the other hand, some people really can't handle it, and that's legit, also. By using the term "waste your money", I was just making a reference to the gas prices nowadays.

There are lots of good hikes to the south of AZ to escape heat. I think Mt. Lemmon is an obvious choice, although I've never been there. I've heard Mt. Wrightson is also a great hike to do.

[Hoffmaster]

on the other hand, some people really can't handle it, and that's legit, also.

That describes me to a "T". It's already too warm for me.

There are lots of good hikes to the south of AZ to escape heat. I think Mt. Lemmon is an obvious choice, although I've never been there. I've heard Mt. Wrightson is also a great hike to do.

You should check out the Wilderness of Rocks on Mt. Lemmon and just about anything on Mt. Wrightson. Good stuff!

[DarthStiller]

I was gonna add a "This means you, Hoffmaster", but thought better of it.

those southern hikes are on my "to-do" list, once my kids can be left alone on weekends, in about 10 years. :whistle:

[Hoffmaster]

my neighbor was telling me the other day he used to hike in long sleeve cotton in the summer.... I imagine this might not be that bad of an idea, but i generally stay away from cotton while on the trail.

Really long sleeves? I'd think you would sweat more.

That's the idea. It is ideal to wear cotton in the extreme heat because it does not "wick", but instead stays wet from your sweat and in turn keeps your body cooler. I stay away from cotton hiking pants, because to me, there is nothing more annoying and less comfortable than a sweaty pair of pants. But in the summer, a cotton shirt should be worn. The fancy "wicking" fabrics were designed to be worn in cold weather, when sweating could mean getting hypothermia. Somehow, through the genius of marketing hacks, these fabrics were branded as "better" than cotton and everyone bought into it.

Don't get me wrong. I love fancy "wicking" fabrics. But I also love not shriveling up and dying in the heat.

[Hoffmaster]

I was gonna add a "This means you, Hoffmaster", but thought better of it.

Ah ha! That would have been funny! I would not have been offended at all. I know my limits, and my heat tolerance is very low. I make it known on purpose. That way, if I were to lose my sense of good judgement (which I do have, believe it or not) and commit to one of your summer Superstition death hikes, you would know that you should talk some sense into me and convince me not to go. I would never want to put anyone in the position of having to take care of me while I suffer heat stroke on a trail miles from civilization. That would ruin everyone's day.

[djui5]

That's the idea. It is ideal to wear cotton in the extreme heat because it does not "wick", but instead stays wet from your sweat and in turn keeps your body cooler.

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks. I'll try that when it gets hot out

[te_wa]

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks. I'll try that when it gets hot out

dude, believe it or not wool is the best natural fiber at controlling both cold and heat. many a seasoned b'packer uses light wool or even silk as a base layer while hiking in summer.

[Hoffmaster]

many a seasoned b'packer uses light wool as a base layer while hiking in summer.

Explain. What base layer garments have you seen that are made out of wool? I can think of socks, and that's about it. I'm too lazy to do any research, so I'm basically leaving myself wide open to looking like an idiot.
I excluded silk from your quotation above, because I have seen just about everything made out of silk.

BTW, I agree with your post (somewhat), but I've never seen wool tights, and I can't imagine anyone wearing a wool shirt in the summertime. Not only that, but by saying "base layer" you're implying that the backpacker would be wearing some other garment over top of the wool. In the summer???
I do have light wool socks that I wear year round. They are the bomb. So are my socks that are made out of corn. For real! Anyone seen wool undies? Those would be fun in the summer heat......yeah right!

[te_wa]

ok, baselayer means (by my definition) a garment that goes against your skin. Not necessarily an undergarment, but something to be worn that will wick sweat, keep you stink free, and keep you cool. Wool does all of these things. There are some companies like Icebreaker-Ibex-Indigenous Designs that make wool shirts and tights for use in summer. There are very light, and thin wool garments out now in natural colors. I cannot understand the pricing tho. Even when I went to the factory stores in Christchurch and Wellington the price of merino was incredible. I have an Icebreaker mid-weight l/s shirt that believe it or not, has a guarantee that you can wear it for two weeks before it starts to stink like the "wearer". As a natural fiber, it is the best thing in the world for temperature control, even in heat. (unless you wear an asbestos shirt, which I do not recommend, just ask Steve McQueen)

[Jeffshadows]

my neighbor was telling me the other day he used to hike in long sleeve cotton in the summer.... I imagine this might not be that bad of an idea, but i generally stay away from cotton while on the trail.

Really long sleeves? I'd think you would sweat more.

That's the idea. It is ideal to wear cotton in the extreme heat because it does not "wick", but instead stays wet from your sweat and in turn keeps your body cooler. I stay away from cotton hiking pants, because to me, there is nothing more annoying and less comfortable than a sweaty pair of pants. But in the summer, a cotton shirt should be worn. The fancy "wicking" fabrics were designed to be worn in cold weather, when sweating could mean getting hypothermia. Somehow, through the genius of marketing hacks, these fabrics were branded as "better" than cotton and everyone bought into it.

Don't get me wrong. I love fancy "wicking" fabrics. But I also love not shriveling up and dying in the heat.

On shorter hikes this logic holds, but on longer ones we must consider the "chaffing factor." Not wicking becomes a real problem after about six or seven hours of sweat and no rinse, if you get my drift... ;-)

[big_load]

dude, believe it or not wool is the best natural fiber at controlling both cold and heat.

It sure is, and I take advantage of it in everyday life, too. I have a bunch of Pendleton wool dress shirts that I use for business travel. I'll rotate between two or three shirts for a couple weeks and I've been comfortable at over 100F in dry air. They're also extremely resistant to wrinkling.

[PaleoRob]

On shorter hikes this logic holds, but on longer ones we must consider the "chaffing factor." Not wicking becomes a real problem after about six or seven hours of sweat and no rinse, if you get my drift... ;-)

Indeed, ignore the chafing factor at your own peril!

[Hoffmaster]

ok, baselayer means (by my definition) a garment that goes against your skin. Not necessarily an undergarment.

Fair enough. I would say that your definition is the correct definition. For some reason, when ever I hear the term "base layer", I always think of it as a layer clothes worn under something else. I know...I'm dumb.

As a natural fiber, it is the best thing in the world for temperature control, even in heat. (unless you wear an asbestos shirt, which I do not recommend, just ask Steve McQueen)

I just got rid of my asbestos thong the other day. It got a hole in it. :yuck: