Heat is the only thing that has ever come close to ruining a trip for me. I need more ideas. Heat is also a precursor to storms when I go, most trips.

We usually trip in late May or June, so it is usually the unseasonable front that gets me. Also...I am from Tennessee and grew up on construction sites. I am tough enough.

Tricks? Thoughts? Etc. Thanks.

I'm mostly bald, so I always wear a hat.

Soaking my hat in the lake, then putting in on works for me. Evaporative cooling at it's finest.

Might seem counter intuitive, but wear a light colored long sleeve shirt in nylon or polyester. Keeping the sun off your skin while remaining light and breathable is the key for me. This combined with hat, buff around my neck cooled in the water, has got me through may hot days. Having a tarp that can provide shade a your campsite is also a big help.

mrballast: "

We usually trip in late May or June, so it is usually the unseasonable front that gets me. ."

that is the worst time to go, max insects, although late May can be OK if it is a late spring
early May is tough because of the competition for space, it's the fishing opener

a dip in the lake cures what ails you, use your mattress to kick back and relax in the water, but if deep, be sure to wear a PFD or at least have it handy

As above or at that time of year jump in the lake. That will definitely cool u off. LOL

MidwestFirecraft: "Might seem counter intuitive, but wear a light colored long sleeve shirt in nylon or polyester. Keeping the sun off your skin while remaining light and breathable is the key for me. This combined with hat, buff around my neck cooled in the water, has got me through may hot days. Having a tarp that can provide shade a your campsite is also a big help. "

I find that both poly and nylon to be insufferable, especially in sun- like being wrapped in saran wrap. I suggest a lightweight merino t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt in white or near white. If it gets really hot dip the shirt, wring and wear until dry. Repeat as often as necessary.

MidwestFirecraft: "Might seem counter intuitive, but wear a light colored long sleeve shirt in nylon or polyester. Keeping the sun off your skin while remaining light and breathable is the key for me. This combined with hat, buff around my neck cooled in the water, has got me through may hot days. Having a tarp that can provide shade a your campsite is also a big help. "

Long sleeves are good... I have a Columbia shirt that is light and breathable. I also wear polyester long sleeves which I don't notice as much as Banksiana (as being constricting since they are a little loose). A buff/sun mask is also good and I wear one any time it's really sunny, combined with a full brim hat usually. On moderate sun days I will wear a baseball cap, usually still with the buff around my neck. On those really hot ones where I'm sweating, I might take the buff off to get more ventilation around my chest, or just dunk it.

The right clothing is important but another important factor is tailor your trip to the conditions. If its unbearably hot and humid then consider adjusting your trip. Don't travel during the hottest parts of the day, look to be off the water by lunch and then lounge in the shade or go for a swim during the hot afternoons.

If you're expecting heat throughout your trip cut down on the miles so you don't have to push on through the heat. Allow yourself to go at a more leisurely pace that allows time to cool down in the shade or take a swim mid way through your travel day.

Also make sure to be drinking A LOT of water and don't forget to eat. Sometimes the heat can make you less hungry but you'll likely be burning a lot more calories than you would at home. I had a friend I tripped with once that pushed too hard one day and didn't take the time to eat so by the end of the day he was feeling pretty bad (light headed, dizzy, really sluggish) He was drinking water but he didn't pay attention to his calorie needs.

Also consider taking something along like the mio sports drink mixes. They are really small and nice to have on trips. They can offer a nice little pick me up on long hot days.

Go in February or March.

I hate heat, too. I wear a wet bandana or buff around my neck and refresh it frequently with cold water. I wear a vented hat or visor to keep the sun off my face. I wet foot it and am not afraid to step in extra deep to get my shorts wet. I also have really long, thick hair so getting my hair wet gives me evaporative cooling for quite awhile. I also never allow myself to get sunburned!

I don't fish...sitting still in full sun on the lake seems like torture to me. I go swimming everyday. I stand in the shade when I am on land. Sometimes I wear a very lightweight, white long sleeved shirt and if desperate I get that wet as well.

Swimming is a great answer. My son and I trip together and on hot days we'll empty out the canoe, paddle offshore and jump in the water. If it's real hot we'll slip off the pfd and dive down a few feet. It's amazing how cold the water is just a few feet below the surface.

I enjoy mid-September trips. The temperature can vary but it's similar to mid to late May. The highs that I have experienced over the past several years have been in the lower 60's with night time temps in the low 40's. We have had our share of precipitation but no dangerous storms. The water temps are likely warmer than they are in May. The crowds have thinned out and the leaves are just starting to turn. Just a thought.

I don't do heat well, either. All the above is great advice, and a lot of common sense.

I always wet foot, but in hot years I'll bring the canoe out farther to put it in, as long as the footing allows it. I'll get wet up to my waist, which has magical cooling powers.

If it's really hot, dip your shirt in the water, then put it back on. A wet bandana draped, not tied, around your neck or on the back of your neck is wonderful. Or, wet the bandana, put it on your head, and secure with your hat.

In camp, move with the breeze and take advantage of it.... preferably under a tree and out of the sun. I highly recommend going for a brief dip in the water right before bed. It'll rinse off the sweat and cool you off before you go into the tent. Tents can be hot boxes, but unless you're completely sure of the weather, I'd leave the fly on. If you know it won't rain, maybe try with the fly off. But if you take the fly off and it's breezy all night, dust can easily enter the tent through the mesh sidewalls and cover you with a fine coating in the morning.

Lastly, if it's still hot at bedtime, crawl on top of your pad or bag, and lay still. Movement in the tent makes it worse. Consider a wet washcloth or bandana in the tent with you when you crawl in.

In terms of hydration..... like others, heat makes me not hungry. Consider mixing Tang or a powdered sugary drink mix in a Nalgene. It's not a meal, but it will give you some calories if you really can't eat.

Mike

quick-dry, long sleeves, keep going in the water.

Gold Bond triple medicated body powder before going to sleep is very nice and remedies some of the uncomfortable symptoms of heat. I don't leave home without it.

Another benefit of bringing a tarp; is shade.

old_salt: "Go in February or March."

Problem solved!


I'd recommend traveling very early - adjust your clock so you're getting up at dawn (which is really early then) and find your site just after lunch, if not earlier.

Fly a tarp high OVER your tent - double shade, but not trapping heat.

Stay hydrated, and sugared.

Risky, but leave the tent open during the day so it stays cooled, and go to bed early so you can get up early (a la point 1).

And as everyone else says, staying covered helps me more - light clothes that let you sweat but don't allow the sun on your skin.

Wear a cotton Boonie hat, dip in the lake and put back on your head. I also bring a bandana and get it wet and put around my neck. The cooling they both give keeps me cool. Wear polyester zip off pants and long sleeve shirts. Jump in the lake with your clothes on, let them dry out. Evaporation cools your entire body. If you wear shorts and a tee shirt and get a sunburn then you will be hot and uncomfortable. That’s why I wear long pants and long sleeve clothes.

It may be counter intuitive but you need to cover up to protect yourself from the sun and heat. A fishing shirt with a UV rating, bandana to cover your break, and a hat will go a long ways towards making you comfortable in the heat. Water for evaporation on synthetic clothing will cool you too. So a outer layer to protect from the heat and evaporation to cool will do the job while in the canoe. Sun screen too will keep your skin from absorbing the heat.

It is the accumulation of many little things that make you comfortable. As long as you are actively trying to stay cool, you will be fine. Trying to cool down after the fact is not going to work. That's like trying to sober up after you drink too much, prevention is key.

A1t2o: ". Water for evaporation on synthetic clothing will cool you too. So a outer layer to protect from the heat and evaporation to cool will do the job while in the canoe. Sun screen too will keep your skin from absorbing the heat.
"

Sunscreen protects against UV radiation- not heat or infrared radiation; it will not keep you cool with the exception of zinc oxide based formulations. Light colored clothing will reflect more of the infrared radiation (thus keeping you cooler) than darker clothing. Merino wool tends to absorb less infrared radiation than most synthetics and allows more airflow to the skin. It is also quite comfortable to wear when wet for evaporative cooling. Unfortunately it is often difficult to find in light colors. A wide brimmed very pale or white hat that is highly breathable is key.

Banksiana: "

A1t2o: ". Water for evaporation on synthetic clothing will cool you too. So a outer layer to protect from the heat and evaporation to cool will do the job while in the canoe. Sun screen too will keep your skin from absorbing the heat.
"

Sunscreen protects against UV radiation- not heat or infrared radiation; it will not keep you cool with the exception of zinc oxide based formulations."

It's more of a perception than actual temperature. If you get a little too much sun your skin will feel inflamed and this will make you feel warmer.