Summer Camp Checklist        Hot Weather Weekend Camping Checklist

The ability to travel and camp in hot weather can expand the range of your adventures to include magnificient portions of North America throughout the year.

Thermia is the Latin word for "heat."
Hypo means "less than."
Hyper is the equivalent of "too much."
Hypothermia is the condition of having too little heat - being cold.
Hyperthermia occurs when there is too much warmth - being hot

Staying Cold in Hot Weather

Coping with heat is the flip side of camping and traveling in cold weather. Just as winter adventures must plan ahead, choose your hot-weather equipment and food with care, and then use lots of common sense. In hot-weather the most important factors are keeping yourself hydrated and cool and matching your activities to the conditions.

Understanding how your body reacts to high temperatures can help you plan your clothing, gear, and provisions for the trek. If also can guide you in deciding when to carry out activities during a trip. The big issues to cope with are heat, humidity, and hydration.

Your body operates best with a core temperature of about 98 degrees, shedding excess warmth primarily by means of radiation and evaporation.
Radiation takes place when body heat dissipates into cooler surrounding air. That ceases to be effective as the outside temperature rises.
Evaporation is your body's other mechanism for staying cool, occuring when you perpire. As moisture on the skin evaporates, it carries heat away with it.

Humidity

Dry climates are ideal for evaporation to occur. However, air saturated with umiditu can't absorb much additional moisture from evaporation. People sweating heavily on a hot, humid day might not be losing much heat at all.

Hydration

Perpiration draws a great deal of fluid from the body, depleting it of water and essential electrolytes. Water requirements vary among people, based on their size, physical makeup, activity levels, and general health, as well as environmental factors.

Drink, Drink, Drink!
Thirst is not always the best indicator of your body's need for water. Instead, drink often enough for your urine to remain light-colored or clear.

• In hot weather, refresh your water containers at evey opportunity. Drink your fill, then refill your container before leaving a water source.
• Keep water readily available and drink small amounts refrequently.
• Don't ration water. If you are thirsty, you need to drink.
• Avoid consuming a lot of caffeinated drinks, which can act as diuretics - agents that purge fluids from the body.
• Don't underestimate your need for water. During strnuous activities in hot weather, your body might require two to three gallons of water per day.