I'm starting a trip next week, I'll be doing 43 miles of portaging, how do I not sweat to bad on these portages, whats the secret, I'm not a big sweater but when carrying a pack it can get ugly, found this out last night on my 4 1/2 mile hike carrying a 25# pack. What your secret thanks Housty.

The obvious stuff, less clothing, carry less weight, rest more often.

I have also found that removing my hat was a big help.

What's wrong with sweating?

Start early in the day, line up tough portages as the first one of the day if possible. Take a cold swim, you are going early so this should help. Go slower.

Go 4 1/2 miles at home with a 25# pack on. Oh, what your doing. You'll always sweat, but not as bad. Slow down a little out there. Skip the 4 1/2 mile portages.

I feel your pain Housty. I started bike riding. Yikes, I'm out of shape. I thought round was a shape.

As a single portager that can't get past wanting a portage behind me (I move pretty briskly), there's not much getting away from sweating on anything longer than 40-50 rods. I will vouch for losing the hat helping a bit though. Thankfully it doesn't bother me, and more thankfully, I've never hit the sleeping bag the minute I cross! THAT would bother me.

Wearing wicking or quick dry clothing helps. I use a Columbia brand sun block long sleeve Hoodie treated with Permethrin. It is a dingy white after a few trips.

quote DeterminedOrange: "The obvious stuff, less clothing, carry less weight, rest more often.


I have also found that removing my hat was a big help."

Last night I was wearing shorts and t-shirt, I don't think the people were I hike want to see me in my birthday suit, I,m going to have to take my shorts on this trip, my pack will weigh around 35# or a little more on my trip.

quote hobbydog: "What's wrong with sweating?


Start early in the day, line up tough portages as the first one of the day if possible. Take a cold swim, you are going early so this should help. Go slower. "

I start paddling about 5:30am, there will be no swimming in the cold water, maybe some on the face or legs.

quote nctry: "Go 4 1/2 miles at home with a 25# pack on. Oh, what your doing. You'll always sweat, but not as bad. Slow down a little out there. Skip the 4 1/2 mile portages.


I feel your pain Housty. I started bike riding. Yikes, I'm out of shape. I thought round was a shape."

The longest portages will be a little under 3 miles, that's double portaging, I've been hiking 3 or 4 times a week, I always do the long loop which is 4 1/2 miles, just started carrying the back pack.

quote housty9: "

quote DeterminedOrange: "The obvious stuff, less clothing, carry less weight, rest more often.



I have also found that removing my hat was a big help."

Last night I was wearing shorts and t-shirt, I don't think the people were I hike want to see me in my birthday suit, I,m going to have to take my shorts on this trip, my pack will weigh around 35# or a little more on my trip."

Yes, no birthday suit please! Sweaty is one thing, naked and sweaty is another.

Best of luck.

While removing the necessary seems wise I would caution against feeding the local mosquito populations. I have found I am cooler in the long sleeve hoodie mentioned than when bare and exposed.

quote bhouse46: "While removing the necessary seems wise I would caution against feeding the local mosquito populations. I have found I am cooler in the long sleeve hoodie mentioned than when bare and exposed. "

Hopefully the mosquitoes won't be bad yet, I'll have plenty of cloths options.

Try a light colored merino wool t-shirt. Wicks and dries. Rinses easy. Low stink. In hot weather you can soak it down and wear it wet.

43 miles of portaging- is there a shortage of lakes where you're heading?

43 miles. Dear God. Who do u think u are? Beav? :)

quote Banksiana: "Try a light colored merino wool t-shirt. Wicks and dries. Rinses easy. Low stink. In hot weather you can soak it down and wear it wet.


43 miles of portaging- is there a shortage of lakes where you're heading?"

If every thing goes as planned I'll see 62 lakes, Its the 4 rivers that add up the portaging, I will check in to the merino wool t-shirts.

quote Exo: "43 miles. Dear God. Who do u think u are? Beav? :)"

No, but while I'm still fairly young I need to get out and see more lakes, I spent alot of time base camping and fishing, and not seeing anything, plus it's hard finding friends or family that want to travel, they think I'm a little nuts to.:)

Mark sweating on portages is something we do to "pay" our canoeing dues. Hopefully the bugs won't be out in force so you and dress lightly but remember to redress when you hit the water again, sweat plus a light breeze can leave you cold in a hurry. When you hit the portages make sure you got plenty of water along. Honestly I worry about you much less then some folks that head up there, your in good shape, travel safe, travel smart, and are carefull. Not to highjack this thread but when are you and your lovely bride headed out? Travel safe FRED

quote FOG51: "Mark sweating on portages is something we do to "pay" our canoeing dues. Hopefully the bugs won't be out in force so you and dress lightly but remember to redress when you hit the water again, sweat plus a light breeze can leave you cold in a hurry. When you hit the portages make sure you got plenty of water along. Honestly I worry about you much less then some folks that head up there, your in good shape, travel safe, travel smart, and are carefull. Not to highjack this thread but when are you and your lovely bride headed out? Travel safe FRED"

The wife is going in the fall, 2nd weekend of September so we are back for the BW wing camp out.

Hey Mark,
I have nothing to add about sweating but wanted to wish you an enriching experience. You planned well for it and I am thrilled for you on your adventure. I'm also looking forward to great stories when we travel the Miss again next fall. This weekend my wife is dropping me at Taylor's Falls for a paddle down the St. Croix to Marine. Can hardly wait.
Mac

I checked the solo topics- but curious as to your route Housty and departure date.



Here's a link to the brand of t-shirt I've had the best luck with Minu33

Started using a light weight shirt from Gander Mountain last year. Turned out to be cool and comfortable when it was warm, dried quickly and the bugs never seemed to bite through it. Wore it when the temps were not very hot but the humidity was fairly high, so sweating was an issue when working hard on portages. Also did OK under rain gear.

Guide Series long sleeve
Tan color
100% nylon shell
Has a thin, breathable 100% polyester lining on shoulders

It is now my 'go to' shirt. Went and bought a second one when I got back.

When I led trips in cold weather we advised our clients to start strenuous activity in clothes too cool for being inactive. Then your body heat warms you but not so much you get soaked with sweat, and moisture breathes out through your clothing keeping layers next to body from getting too damp.

quote MacCamper: "Hey Mark,
I have nothing to add about sweating but wanted to wish you an enriching experience. You planned well for it and I am thrilled for you on your adventure. I'm also looking forward to great stories when we travel the Miss again next fall. This weekend my wife is dropping me at Taylor's Falls for a paddle down the St. Croix to Marine. Can hardly wait.
Mac"

Really looking forward to next week, I'm going to get about 3 or 4 more hikes in before I go, have fun paddle this weekend and get some pictures and I'll have to come up and paddle with you sometime.

quote Banksiana: "I checked the solo topics- but curious as to your route Housty and departure date.



Here's a link to the brand of t-shirt I've had the best luck with Minu33 "

I'm starting at Sawbill heading to Polly to Alice to South arm of Knife to Little Sag to Tuscarora to long Island to Brule then down the Temperance river and back to Sawbill, thanks for the t-shirt info. Driving up the 7th paddling in the 8th.

quote gkimball: When I led trips in cold weather we advised our clients to start strenuous activity in clothes too cool for being inactive. Then your body heat warms you but not so much you get soaked with sweat, and moisture breathes out through your clothing keeping layers next to body from getting too damp."

Thanks for the tip.

With luck I'll be sharing your weather but paddling to the northwest.

quote Banksiana: "With luck I'll be sharing your weather but paddling to the northwest."

where are you Paddling?

Don't know for sure (will see what the wind is doing) but more than likely will end up in the area north of Crooked.

I am a big sweater, so this is always a topic of interest. Kind of depends on temps. When I was up in June last year it was cooler than it is right now so not even comparable. Lots of good advice here, wool base layer or t-shirt. I used the Columbia Tamiami shirt and another similar one for the wicking and light weight. Even under rain gear I felt pretty decent most of the time and dried out quickly.

If you have a cloth hat and the day is warm, soak it in water, wring it out most of the way, and then put it on. It will Help to keep you nice and cool.

Have a great time, I envy your long trip!

Brandon

Doesn't the same principal apply here as I'd does to winter camping/ hiking to your deer stand in the morning ? Peel enough close off till your comfortable without getting too cold and slowing down ? Those were the two things my dad always told us on the extra cold mornings during deer season when we were kids. The last thing you wanted to do before you sat in a deer stand all day is start out all sweaty.

quote wvevans: "Doesn't the same principal apply here as I'd does to winter camping/ hiking to your deer stand in the morning ? Peel enough close off till your comfortable without getting too cold and slowing down ? Those were the two things my dad always told us on the extra cold mornings during deer season when we were kids. The last thing you wanted to do before you sat in a deer stand all day is start out all sweaty."

I can relate to that, I've done a lot of deer hunting back in the day, not so much now.

I don't know how one handles going in the middle of summer and really hot days, when traveling long distances.

quote housty9: "I don't know how one handles going in the middle of summer and really hot days, when traveling long distances."

Wear a white hat with a wide brim.
Soak your white (ish) wool t-shirt and wear until dry. Repeat.
Soak your hat.
Stop canoe, remove all clothing, plunge into water. Repeat whenever possible.

quote DeterminedOrange: "The obvious stuff, less clothing, carry less weight, rest more often.


I have also found that removing my hat was a big help."

All this, good wicking base layer, slow steady pace, and drink lots of fluid to replace what you sweat out ;).

Sweating is interesting stuff. Way back (and 50lbs ago) I wan an elite athlete as a swimmer/runner. Swimming, you don't realize that you are sweating, but it happens and is not visual. But I also ran CC in college and noticed that I did not sweat as much as my room mate did (laundry deal). He was normal body mass and I was thin. SINCE- I have put on MUCH more weight and got out of shape and notice that when I do anaerobic (hard core cardio exercise) I perspire much more then I used to. Not even close. Technically speaking-- it's how the muscles in the human body remove lactic acid from the ( lack of a better term) the workout process from you muscles. (Google Lactic acid) Lactic acid is what makes you feel like crap when your work out (not after-- that is a different deal) and the removal of it means you are getting in shape. The better in shape you are--- the less you will sweat. It all comes down to your body producing the most it can from the O2 we breath- and converting that to power. Generally speaking-- people who sweat profusely , are out of shape. Sweating is a cooling process of the body on a thermodynamic level -- sweating is a sign that your body will need rest soon--- along with hydration which many forget.

So Mark, not a fan of the sauna?

Soaking your nekkid body in the cold lake waters for five minutes before you portage will certainly delay the onset of sweating...

:-P

quote inspector13: "
So Mark, not a fan of the sauna?


"

I don't do a lot of canoe stuff in the summer, a little fishing, I'm going to try out my new merino wool under ware and t-shirts this trip, and I'm bringing my shorts and be like Cody on dual survival.

quote HikingStick: "Soaking your nekkid body in the cold lake waters for five minutes before you portage will certainly delay the onset of sweating...


:-P"

I would but don't want to scare the fish away:)

I don't agree with White Wolf. Before my illness, I was in great shape, and in years previous, I was in even better shape. Playing on the World tour of Handball, I would go thru at least one T-shirt a game. Sweating excessively I was a sweat hog. Have been my whole life. It's more a heat mechanism than anything. The main thing is to take in plenty of fluids to replenish and not become submissive to cramping. Conditioning is a key, but not always conducive to your conditioning.

Getting in shape doesn't make you sweat more after all...

i have dysautonomia. i can break into a heavy sweat for no reason at all. it sucks but i'm used to it.

I don't think Mark is too worried about sweating so for. Not a great start to the trip weather wise.