Adapting to the heat

[waldenbound]

Ok, we are approaching the dog days of summer, and most of us are scattered either north, or at high elevations, trying to stay cool.

I would like to know, has anyone tried adapting to the heat? Not beat the heat, not drive north, not go higher, but truly adapt to living in triple digit temperatures. Not Phoenix “I feel like a human Shrinky Dink” temperatures, but say 100-105 degrees.

A couple of reasons why I ask. One, maybe the area you like is just so darn gorgeous, you want to stay during the hot season. Two, while everyone else is crowding out the higher, cooler, elevations, you are enjoying peace and quiet, albeit hot.

I am at 7,000 feet, but am trying to acclimate to higher temperatures.  I am not using my AC, my trailer is getting up to 90-95, and I only have windows open for breeze, and Reflectix window coverings. I stay hydrated. When I’m outside I wear my light, long sleeve sun shirt, and wide brim Tilley hat. That’s about all I’m doing.

 

[rvwandering]

We choose to stay east this year and have been in high temperatures and high humidity since the middle of May. It went from a cooler than normal, rainy spring right into full on summer over a couple of days. Along with staying hydrated and parking in the shade we've spent some of the hottest days in air conditioned museums. 

 I don't think we've had any days in the triple digits but it's been in the high 90s for days in a row and our bodies have adjusted. Right now it's 80 ((getting a break for a couple of weeks!) and it feels cool and comfortable.

 

[John61CT]

I lived in the third world tropics, and your body does get acclimated to extreme heat as long as you don't go in and out of aircon spaces.

It takes a long time.

Built-up concrete cities are much worse than places with some nature left.

And of course light colored loose fitting open-weave natural fiber clothing helps, linen is great.

And lots of fresh air ventilation, fans blowing right at you.

And a more relaxed, slower pace of living, forget being so busy, throw away the clocks.

 

[tx2sturgis]

A spray bottle full of water can help you thru the hottest part of the day if the ambient humidity is not too high.

Sprayed on your arms, face, neck, and legs, it helps, especially if there is a breeze or a fan blowing on you.

 

[QinReno]

I am at 7,000 feet, but am trying to acclimate to higher temperatures. 

I don't think one can ever acclimate to 120F and 90% humidity, but 100F and low humidity might be more doable. Reno is right about 5000-feet, and temperatures have been close to 100F for the past 2-weeks. The air conditioning in my apartment is only moderate. I do programming for fun (retiree hobby), and for the first 10-days or so of hot weather, I couldn't concentrate at all and mainly thought about traveling, but now I am getting better and able to think a bit more. 

I have a fan blowing all of the time, air conditioning on or not. I think the body will adjust somewhat over time - it's full of homeostatic feedback mechanisms. Above all else, stay in the shade and out of the sun. 

This website talks about it, but just stuff everyone knows:
https://www.wikihow.com/Acclimate-to-Hot-Weather

 

[WalkaboutTed]

The heat snuck up on me about a month ago. I was at 7200ft, but it was still quite warm, 89F inside the trailer. Initially I felt alright, but then I started feeling crappy and laid down on the bed. Mistake! Nausea started, and my thinking became foggy. At that point, I was not cognizant of what was going on, I wasn't even perspiring (very bad sign). Tachycardia. Hubby figured out what was going on and almost carried me into the van with the A/C running full blast. We were over an hour from the nearest ER, so he covered me with wet towels with the cold air blowing on me and filled me full of frozen Otter Pops and water. It took two hours with those interventions before I felt semi human again. No cellphone reception to call for help.

It was a pretty scary, potentially life threatening experience. In retrospect, several things happened. I'm older (near 60). I'm diabetic. I hadn't been at altitude very long and wasn't fully adapted. I'm always behind on fluids. What's really stupid is that I'm an RN and know better. Lesson learned.

I've lived in the desert (Phoenix and Tucson) for 25 years and before that, South Florida for 27 years. I grew up in Fort Laudedale with no air conditioning. I know heat and know better.
Ted

 

[Trebor English]

I'm acclimated to my elevation, maybe 72 feet.  Since 1949 I've been South of Orlando except for 1 year in Montreal and 6 years in the Navy.  On the coast 95 is common, 99 very rare, never seen 100.  The humidity is thick.  

Ten years working on and driving school buses never bothered me.  Air conditioning feels too cold so I avoid it.  The back and forth, hot cold hot cold, is unpleasant.  Drinking lots of water is necessary.

 

[QinReno]

I have a fan blowing all of the time, air conditioning on or not. I think the body will adjust somewhat over time - it's full of homeostatic feedback mechanisms. Above all else, stay in the shade and out of the sun. 

Forgot to add, and drink lots of fluids, of course. I prefer Gatorade watered down 50%. I used that blend for years hiking in the mountains, and preferred it over 100% Gatorade. For an all day hike, 2 1/2 quarts of watered-down Gatorade.

@Walkabout - I don't know the specific problems with being diabetic, but it certainly sounds like you were dehydrated. When I lived in Colorado, people would fly in from the east coast, and get sick at 5000-foot elevation. Often because it is easy to get dehydrated when you travel. Also, what I found in my van is that having a fan running about 3-feet from my bed helped a lot when I was taking a nap, etc. Much better than a fan in the roof, I swear by these things for quick cooling.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?&_nkw=DC12V+360°+Dual+Car+Cooling+Fan

 

[waldenbound]

I think I’m doing pretty well adapting to the heat so far. Being so high up will not allow the 100s, but I’m leaving after Labor Day towards Phoenix, so I’ll get another blast of hot before fall. I plan to bypass Phoenix and get up to :heart: Tucson :heart: . Look at that, Tucson gets two hearts now

I sit and drink all day. Always drink before your thirsty. If your dying of thirst and have a glass of water, it’s too late, your dehydrated. Eat salty snacks too, it will replace the salts your body loses during perspiration. Cover as much body as you can in the sun. Bare arms and legs and face just invite skin cancer.

Staying out of the air conditioned buildings is huge. I’ve heard that a lot. Does no good to run from the
Air conditioned car, to the air conditioned store, to the air conditioned house. People have settled Phoenix, Tucson, all of Texas, and other places long before air conditioning.

My ultimate goal is to become acclimated to the point where I can have my air conditioner removed and put in a Fantastic Fan in its place.

 

[bullfrog]

When we were younger we lived in Tumbling Shoals Arkansas not far from Greers Ferry Lake for a few years with no AC just the lake and fans. Because of bugs, flying insects and humid stagnant air trying to sleep at night was the most difficult. Moonshine really helps but just like the heat you have to get used to it. Even with a screened in porch, shot gun style house and big fans there were 3 to 6 weeks you could get no rest, you just survived and tried to get cool during the day by staying in the lake as much as possible. When it gets above body temperature even with low humidity here at Lake Powell shade tarps and shelters positioned to get as much breeze as possible really helps but after several hours even staying hydrated and using ice vests you get weak and need to cool off by jumping in the lake or getting in an air conditioned space. People at Lake Havasue that can not take the heat do well here as they already have some huge wide brimmed hats.

 

[lenny flank]

In Florida, we call that "thinning your blood". It takes a couple years for most people, but they get accustomed to the summer heat.

Then winter comes along---and you freeze when it gets below 75.

 

[waldenbound]

It’s 70 degrees? Whew, let me get my down jacket!

 

[John61CT]

True that.

Took me five years to get back used to winters after doing without, still hate the cold.

 

[Moxadox]

It's instructive to observe what animals do in the heat: they stay out of it. In the desert, the only critters you will see moving about in the heat of the day are the little lizards. For some reason, they don't seem to mind triple digits. Even the snakes disappear after 8 am on hot days. You will not see any mammals during daylight hours. Warm blooded critters are below ground in their nice cool holes. Birds generally keep themselves tucked away in their cool places, too. They become even more crepuscular (I love that word: it means "of dawn and dusk).

My dog navigates according to the shade. To get from point A to point B, she scopes out the shady spots and stays in them as much as possible. If she can't find a shady route, she won't go.

True, we acclimate to a certain extent. My old buddy from university, Sisera Wijeratne, came from Sri Lanka, where it is very hot and humid. He used to go jogging in a Mylar suit, explaining that cold old Chicago did not promote sweating like at home; therefore he felt he needed to do something to get his pores pouring--therefore, the Mylar suit. I think I would die if I went jogging in a Mylar suit, but it seemed to suit Sisera very well. He never did acclimate to the Chicago winters.

I spent an incredibly uncomfortable summer in Summertown, TN. The temperature held at around 100° day and night, and the humidity was so high my glasses were permanently fogged. No AC anywhere: it was off the grid. 10 weeks of wishing it would at least rain, wring some of that moisture out of the air. No dice. The air hung there, pregnant with the promise of rain relief that never came. Shirts stuck to flesh. People were universally ill-tempered. Dogs that had never bitten anyone, bit. Everyone got diarrhea from the heat. I lived on a diet of watermelon and ice cream.

So yes, I do think it's possible to acclimate to all sorts of conditions. But if you find it's just not happening, please be like the desert mammals and seek shade and coolth, so that you don't end up deader than you'd planned.

The Dire Wolfess

 

[bigsallysmom]

I just finished a weekend at 9000 feet in New Mexico. At one point the shade moved from over the van. The inside temp said 90; the outside 99. I took the fresh water sprayer and misted my arms, legs, neck and face. Dog got the whole body spray and she wiggled with joy. It felt awesome. Wasn't long before the shade came from the other side and once it dropped to 80 I started getting chilled. Definitely need to think about getting the tarp out if the shade disappears. It was my first overnighter in the mountains during a summer weekend. Not smart. So many people I had to choose from really poor leftover sites.
Back at the S&B I normally hate to go from natural air to AC. However, the temps are well over 100 and the window ACs can't keep up. It's not so jarring to go from outside to inside.

 

[bullfrog]

If you look at population stats not very many people lived year round in the southwest before air conditioning. Most had winter homes.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have lived in an area (Northern Minnesota) where the temperatures range from +90ºF to -40ºF.  Your body adjusts and the longer you live in that environment the quicker the adjustment happens.  BUT when I got over 60 Y.O. it I didn't adjust to heat or cold as well any longer and it seems the older I get the narrower the temperature range I am comfortable in.

As to hydration, this is pounded into any newby mountaineers:
     Gin clear urine = well hydrated
     Bright or dark yellow urine = you're not drinking enough
     Mountain Dew colored pee = you're severely dehydrated
     Any other color of the rainbow = find a doctor FAST

Another thing to remember is to replenish your electrolytes.  Water intoxication is when you drink enough water to dilute the sodium in you blood stream, causing cell swelling.  If your brain cells start to swell you are in deep dodo.

 

[QinReno]

Another thing to remember is to replenish your electrolytes.  Water intoxication is when you drink enough water to dilute the sodium in you blood stream, causing cell swelling.  If your brain cells start to swell you are in deep dodo.

That's why they invented Gatorade in the first place.

 

[waldenbound]

Salty snacks, that’s why I keep potato chips on hand.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

That's why they invented Gatorade in the first place.

I just don't like some of the ingredients in Gatorade.

Salty snacks, that’s why I keep potato chips on hand.

Add bananas or raisins for potassium and your good to go.