Most hikers will tell you that the best hiking experience comes in the summer. The visibility is great, nature is alive, the hiking hours are longer, and you won’t have to worry about getting wet. However, there is one big issue that hikers face in the summer—high heat.
If you want to make your next summer hike a lot easier than it usually is, make sure to follow these tips.
Be Selective With Your Hikes
Don’t choose just any trail. Instead, be selective and look for forested hikes and short trails. This way, you won’t be exposed to the sun for too long and won’t spend more time outside than you should.
Stay Hydrated
We can’t stress this enough. By drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated, you will keep your body cool and replace all that water it loses during sweating.
Wear Proper Clothes
Your usual heavy and sturdy hiking clothes might not be the best choice for a summer hike. Make sure you wear light clothes made out of breathable fabric. Also, stick to colors that reflect sunlight, like white, pale brown, and light gray.
Apply Plenty of Sunscreen
Even if you are managing to find plenty of shade, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need sunscreen. Apply plenty of it on exposed parts of your body, especially the face, and neck, because it only takes 15 minutes for the sunlight to cause harm to your skin.