Staying Cool in the Summer Heat

Here are some tips that I follow so that we don't get over-heated during summer hiking:

Timing— Get out on the trails as early as possible to beat the heat.

The Seaton Trails have so much Tree Cover

Tree Cover – Hike primarily in old-growth forests as opposed to meadows that provide less shade.Shady trees can make the air feel cooler by 5-10 degrees celsius.That’s cool comfort when you have a 25 lb load and are hiking up-hill.Leave the long meadow walks for the winter when you really need the extra vitamin D.

Light-weight and longer sleeves work well; lots of water, too!

Water – Hydrate yourself and a toddler with regular sips of water. It might mean an extra diaper change and a bio-break amongst the bushes. But, that’s better that a white-dry mouth and heat exhaustion.

Top choice... water!

Wear light clothing – Even if you wear longer-sleeves and long-legged pants to prevent bites, scrapes, and sun-burn, you can find natural and synthetic materials that are breathable. 

Hats – Many people avoid hats when exercising as they tend to prevent heat from escaping the body. Still, many advise to cover your child’s head with a brimmed hat to avoid sun-exposure and heat-capture. Even if getting a hat on your child's head is a feat in itself, use a carrier with a sun hood to increase shade in sunny meadows.  Most soft carriers and steel-framed carriers have one.

Now, which of these tots do you think is cooler of the two? 
Hint: Not the grumpy-looking one who pulled back the stroller shade
and refused to wear her hat.

Take a break! — If you feel too tired midway through a hike, stop and rest.  Cool your body down in the shade of a tree or even in a river that runs near the trail.  Once you’re more refreshed, head back out.  Below, L'il Chica is cooling off in the shade near the river where the temperature is usually more comfortable.

Take it easy! – Find a less strenuous trail to prevent unnecessary exertion.  You might even find that your toddler can walk about with you on a flatter trail.  What fun for them that you chose to slow down and allow them to do some actual hiking :o)  Above, L'il Chica is holdng on to her sippy-cup and chilling in the shade.

How do you stay cool during the warm summer weather?

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