{"id":1508,"date":"2019-05-25T19:45:19","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T19:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packitgourmet.com\/blog\/?p=1508"},"modified":"2019-05-27T20:37:18","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T20:37:18","slug":"how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-elements-on-your-next-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/25\/how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-elements-on-your-next-hike\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Protect Yourself from the Elements on Your Next Hike"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whether you\u2019re hiking in the mountains, the desert, or anywhere in between, preparation for the natural elements is a big part of planning any outdoor trip. Exposure on a hike can mean many different things, none of them good: lack of shade or shelter, prolonged time spent at altitude or in extreme temperatures, natural obstacles, and biting or stinging insects. They can vary from mild annoyances to possibly life-threatening injuries\u2014and all should be taken seriously. It\u2019s important to reduce your risk where you can and plan for the worst-case scenario when you\u2019re far away from help. Cover these bases, and you\u2019ll be well on your way to making sure you remember your outdoor adventures for the right reasons.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n


\nTEMPERATURE<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The human body operates best when its core is between a relatively narrow range of temperatures\u2014anything much warmer or colder, and things start to fall apart. Before you head out, know the average highs and lows for the area where you\u2019ll be hiking and plan as if you might have to spend more time in the wilderness than you expect.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s likely to be very hot, wear clothes that wick moisture and help regulate your body temperature, like a short-sleeved button-up shirt that will vent as you sweat. Bring along plenty of water: In hot climates, you should be drinking two to four liters per day. If you\u2019ll be out for more than a few hours, consider an electrolyte replacement as well\u2014or at least plenty of salty food.<\/p>\n

Extreme cold is easier to plan for\u2014you can only take off so much clothing, but you can always add more. Dressing in layers is essential, allowing you to open or remove clothing quickly and avoid sweating. Once you stop, the body cools fast, so be ready to put on a snuggly fleece midlayer or insulated jacket. Bring along some shelter in case you find yourself out in the cold longer than expected. It doesn\u2019t have to be a proper tent, but a cheap emergency blanket, bivouac bag, or warm parka can go a long way in helping your body to retain heat when you really need it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

WIND<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The wind can knock you off your feet, and it also can contribute to you losing body heat. Photo by Mahkeo<\/figcaption><\/figure>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not only is wind miserable to be caught out in, but it also can cause you to lose heat rapidly. Exposed hiking, where there are no trees or ridgelines to block the breeze, often means spending hours at a time in the wind. If the area where you\u2019ll be hiking is known for being unusually windy (or if the forecast indicates significant gusts), bring along a lightweight layer to block the wind and retain body heat. If you\u2019re spending the night outside, set up your tent so that it\u2019s aerodynamic, rather than broadside to the wind. Cook downwind of your shelter and consider bringing along a windscreen or having a companion block the breeze as you light the stove. And don\u2019t forget the silver lining: You\u2019re far less likely to battle pesky bugs on a windy day.<\/p>\n


\nPRECIPITATION<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the rain starts to fall, the last place you want to be is high on an exposed ridgeline. In addition to getting wet (and increasing the risk of hypothermia), you\u2019re in danger of being struck by lighting, which tends to hit the tallest thing around. As a precaution, if you\u2019re hiking in an alpine zone, always plan to be back down below treeline by early afternoon, when thunderstorms often roll in. You should avoid hiking above timberline on days when there are thunderstorms in the forecast. If you do happen to get caught in an electrical storm, the best place to be is in a forest with uniformly sized trees\u2014steer clear of any that stand above the rest.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not in an area where lightning is of particular concern, you\u2019ll still need to keep yourself dry. A waterproof outer layer is great, but it\u2019s even more critical that it can vent to keep you from sweating too much\u2014your clothes won\u2019t keep you warm if they\u2019re wet.<\/p>\n


\nSUN<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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When there\u2019s no shade on the trail, make sure you bring some along with a wide-brimmed hat. Photo by Lyndsey Marie<\/figcaption><\/figure>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s crucial to take care of your skin, not only for your long-term health but because you\u2019ll be dehydrated and dysfunctional if you burn to a crisp. Cover up as much as possible with UPF clothing and apply sunblock (at least SPF 50) to any visible skin, like your face and hands. If you\u2019re unlikely to find shade on a hike, bring your own\u2014a wide-brimmed hat will afford you protection from sun and keep your face and neck from burning.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n


\nALTITUDE<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many exposed hikes in alpine areas are also at high altitude, in which case you\u2019ll need to be prepared to recognize signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). AMS can happen to anyone, and it\u2019s not entirely understood what causes it, as some people will hike or climb at altitude for years without incident, and then suddenly experience it without warning. Early signs of AMS include headache, feelings of fatigue, and nausea; if they\u2019re not addressed, they can worsen considerably until you\u2019re confused and having trouble with fine-motor skills or even walking. The only surefire way to treat AMS is by descending as rapidly as possible. Symptoms typically occur beginning at elevations as low as 8,000 feet, so if you\u2019re feeling unwell, consider the altitude.<\/p>\n


\nINSECTS<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Forested areas are beautiful, but make a plan to keep the insects from destroying your fun in the outdoors. Photo by Jachan Devol<\/figcaption><\/figure>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bugs can turn even the most pleasant hike into a nightmare. If you\u2019re out for days at a time, it can get tricky to continually re-apply repellent sprays, which is why it often makes sense to wear your insect repellent. Some clothing manufacturers offer gear with tighter weave in the fabric, as well as built-in repellent. In addition, wearing light colors can help you see pesky biting bugs before they\u2019re a problem. Use in combination with your preferred repellent for an effective method of keeping insect bites at bay, even when you\u2019re out in the thick of bug season.<\/p>\n

All of these issues can be largely avoided\u2014or at least alleviated\u2014with proper planning and having the necessary gear handy when it\u2019s needed. Do that, and you\u2019ll be spending more of your time enjoying the outdoors and less of it longing for something you left at home.<\/p>\n

Written by Emma Walker for RootsRated.<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re hiking in the mountains, the desert, or anywhere in between, preparation for the natural elements is a big part of planning any outdoor trip. Exposure on a hike can mean many different things, none of them good: lack of shade or shelter, prolonged time spent at altitude or…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[67,66,50,81,82,77,65],"class_list":["post-1508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-camping","tag-hiking","tag-how-to","tag-national-forests","tag-national-parks","tag-section-hiking","tag-thru-hiking"],"acf":[],"avatar_default":"\"\"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}