HEAT can we adapt?

[Scorpion Regent]

And my Ford Econoline had two huge tarps roped above it in an inverted V.
Actually a double V, since they were overlapped.
That way they bore the brunt of the sun and the shade around my van was a lot cooler. 

You are absolutely right Calaverasgrande double tarps, properly set, allow for more cooling.  I forgot about that.  The top tarp blocks the sun and takes direct heat.   The bottom tarp in shade is cooler because it is not directly absorbing heat from the sun.  When overlapping be sure the there is a distinct air gap between the two layers to allow air to pass between and draw away heat.  Deploy the tarps so the prevailing wind will cause better airflow between the two layers.  Slant the tarps so that the low ends are into the sun and the high ends are away from the sun.  This casts the most shade and allows heat to vent up and out.  I'm sure a lot of this is old hat for many of you, but  I figured it bears repeating for those that don't yet know it.

 

[Scorpion Regent]

When you first set up shade you not likely be doing it in the dark.  That means that the ground will have been absorbing heat from the sun for a while.  It helps if you have something to put on the ground under your shade that insulate you from ground heat.  I use a 8'x10' piece of astro turf.  The next day it won't matter as much because it will be under shade for some part of the day.   
If you can, have furniture that allows as much airflow as possible, failing that, fabric that breathes helps a lot.  Canvas is better than nylon.  Anything that traps heat next to your body is a problem.  Chairs with loose webbing are good, vinyl cushions are bad.  Mesh hammocks and sling chairs are great.  Cots are better than air mattresses.  A black chair in the sun should be covered with a white sheet.  In the shade a black chair actually works as it radiates heat better than any other color.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

You are absolutely right Calaverasgrande double tarps, properly set, allow for more cooling.  I forgot about that.  The top tarp blocks the sun and takes direct heat.   The bottom tarp in shade is cooler because it is not directly absorbing heat from the sun.  When overlapping be sure the there is a distinct air gap between the two layers to allow air to pass between and draw away heat.  Deploy the tarps so the prevailing wind will cause better airflow between the two layers.  Slant the tarps so that the low ends are into the sun and the high ends are away from the sun.  This casts the most shade and allows heat to vent up and out.  I'm sure a lot of this is old hat for many of you, but  I figured it bears repeating for those that don't yet know it.

I actually happened on it by accident.
Ran a line form the back of my roof rack to a tree in front of the van and set up a tarp at night because there was not a lot of cover.
When the sun did come up, it turned out I had gotten the angle wrong. And the sun was beaming right down on me.

So my 2nd tarp which was supposed to be for something else, went up.
Then over the day I adjusted it when I had time.
I was the sound guy for our small music festival in the boonies so my hands were full.
By the 2nd or 3rd day I had it all figured out. both tarps were in a sloppy inverted V.
With the corner of one coming down to block the long evening sun rays that come up the middle of the valley there.
It's never a good idea to pitch a tent or rig a tarp in the dark. Not that it's dangerous. You just have a hard time knowing where the arc of the sun's travel will be.
But almost every time I go camping with other people, we end up arriving as the sun is setting or already set.
Even gotten in the habit of telling them to make sure everything is packed, bought and ready to go. We will make a stop for other stuff
AFTER we get out of the damn city!
Suburbs have Trader Joes tamales too.

 

[gizmotron]

This is very good too:

 

[crofter]

Thanks for the great link to Bob's video gizmotron. Also check out his video on screening your airflow as some of us suffered from the bugs this year & is to be avoided.

Those are great long lasting space blankets and also have grommets if you are securing with a line. I think key is Bob's magnets. The smaller magnets do fall off easier that the domino size he shows here. The space blanket is a survival item & everyone should have one.

Last year I used reflectics similiarly on my big van windshield, held on with a bungee. The reflection outside the van stopping solar gain makes a big difference.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

Here is another video from Bob 2 years ago focused on dealing with heat while city dwelling & stealth. Use of microclimates and awareness of natural cooling with trees & water, free air conditioning at stores and public buildings (cooling centers).



Also be aware of places with a breeze like canyon areas, and places that stay cooler just a few miles away. 
-crofter

 

[crofter]

Anyone use a sun parasol for walking /hiking shade?  -c

https://thetrek.co/why-sun-umbrellas-are-becoming-thru-hikers-favorite-piece-of-gear/

 

[Scorpion Regent]

When the sun did come up, it turned out I had gotten the angle wrong. And the sun was beaming right down on me.

It's never a good idea to pitch a tent or rig a tarp in the dark. Not that it's dangerous. You just have a hard time knowing where the arc of the sun's travel will be.

Polaris will show you north, if you are far enough away from "civilization" and the sky is clear.  If you are going to use a compass be sure to be far enough away from any metal so you get a accurate reading.  From there you an figure out where the sun will rise and set.  In the summer the sun will be higher in the sky, in the winter lower.  You can figure out how much by the month and the latitude.  C'mon GPS is for more than navigation.

 

[crofter]

Anyone use a sun parasol for walking /hiking shade?  -c

https://thetrek.co/why-sun-umbrellas-are-becoming-thru-hikers-favorite-piece-of-gear/

Not listed in the review, the cubie model is heavier in weight but lighter on the wallet, 98% uv block.   -c

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07SS6MV5S/ref=sspa_mw_detail_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Polaris will show you north, if you are far enough away from "civilization" and the sky is clear.  If you are going to use a compass be sure to be far enough away from any metal so you get a accurate reading.  From there you an figure out where the sun will rise and set.  In the summer the sun will be higher in the sky, in the winter lower.  You can figure out how much by the month and the latitude.  C'mon GPS is for more than navigation.

yeah in hindsight all these things seem obvious. But when you drive 200 miles to a campsite, (the last 20 takes an hour by itself!)
and you are running late and one of the key planners/executors of the event. You kind of just pull up, set up and hit the ground running.
After our first messy event I changed the plan so that the crew goes up 2 full days before the big weekend blowout. That way we get a fun pre-campout to just party and stake out the best camping real estate before the big crowd.
And driving north out of the Bay area is much less stressful on a weekday.
Weekends you have thousands of vehicles heading to Tahoe, Casinos, wineries and other money pits.
Weekdays, no boats trying to make that exit across 4 lanes. No massive SUVs roaring up the shoulder, right in your blindspot!

As far as the big picture
We are in the midst of the 6th extinction event.
Life on this planet has weathered asteroids, climatic shifts and some die offs they dont understand yet.
Life persists.
Whether the future will be a planet of extremophile microorganisms or gene spliced humans with heat adaptations engineered in?
Also whether our technology can adapt to use no greenhouse gasses on an effective scale is a big question.
I faintly recall a sci fi story from Omni magazine I think.
The premise was that an advanced alien civilization decided to remove humans from Earth and relocate them to a similar planet.
The new planet was close enough in terms of climate.
But the scientists quickly figured out it was resource poor. No metals to speak of beyond copper.
Which is great for electrons and conducting heat, but not durable like more robust metals.
So the civilization was going to be constrained by what you can build with copper.
I think we may soon find ourselves in a similar quandry.
Petro-fuel is very energy dense.
Our only viable replacements are still kind of in development.

 

[Scorpion Regent]

yeah in hindsight all these things seem obvious. But when you drive 200 miles to a campsite, (the last 20 takes an hour by itself!)
and you are running late and one of the key planners/executors of the event. You kind of just pull up, set up and hit the ground running.
After our first messy event I changed the plan so that the crew goes up 2 full days before the big weekend blowout. That way we get a fun pre-campout to just party and stake out the best camping real estate before the big crowd.


As far as the big picture

Yeah, I get that.  When it comes to camping, it always helps to plan first and look back to see how to do it better the next time.  We can chat later about the infrastructure of large temporary gatherings.

As to the big picture and hind sight, I recommend:  James Burke's  -  After the Warming (1989) a two part film.  Yes it's 22years old but very timely.

 

[crofter]

Got off topic, but this discussion of kiva might be relevant for desert dwellers & in high quake areas. Couple of posts from the conversation.
-crofter

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=40378&pid=550758#pid550758

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=40378&pid=550760#pid550760

Some giant kivas did have a roof.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiva

The kiva ruin north of Farmington is shown here reconstructed with its roof and entrance. Would have stayed significantly cooler inside. -c

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_Ruins_National_Monument

 

[crofter]

In above link I suggested constructing a kiva (round basement) with flooring platform over, and using a yurt attached to the platform either seasonally or left up permanently. Fabric cover of yurt is estimated to last from 8 plus years depending on climate. Built to withstand wind & snow load. Yurt forum discusses floor vents to bring up cool air, and openable top vent to exhaust hot air.

Modern day yurt source, gives you an idea on cost. There are also metal rib yurts marketed, though metal ribs would not be good in a lightning storm. To note that the genuine article sold from Mongolia is much cheaper. Link to site.   -c

https://yurtmarket.com/

 

[Scorpion Regent]

Modern day yurt source, gives you an idea on cost. There are also metal rib yurts marketed, though metal ribs would not be good in a lightning storm. To note that the genuine article sold from Mongolia is much cheaper. Link to site.   -c

https://yurtmarket.com/

Physics wise a grid work of metal ribs might invite a lightning strike, but it might also disperse it around you safely.  If you were sitting cross legged dead center of that yurt, making no contact with the frame, you might actually safer than standing outside.  This of course is all theoretical I wouldn't ask any one to test it.  We need Mythbusters.

 

[crofter]

I am comforted that my umbrella has fiberglass ribs, just in case.

The metal rib construction looks a lot simpler to put up, if you were using it seasonally. The wood frame ones are a bit of a chore, though the guy on the video does it in half hour, in the forest it took a team of us all day, with battery drills.
-crofter

 

[Scott3569]

Of course the body can adaptt with limitations.. people live yearly on Caribbean island year round.. 

Body weight is a huge factor.  The heavier you are the more you are going to sweat.  We can work out, and condition our bodies and it would take longer for us to be extremely uncomfortable.. 

But staying hydrated is the most important

 

[Scorpion Regent]

Body weight is a huge factor.  The heavier you are the more you are going to sweat.  We can work out, and condition our bodies and it would take longer for us to be extremely uncomfortable.. 

But staying hydrated is the most important

water weighs 1 kilo per liter, weight makes you sweat, must stay hydrated, ... water weighs 1 kilo per liter, weight makes you sweat, must stay hydrated,  ....  AHHHHH!     

The very embodiment of a Catch-22.
Maybe we are overlooking a possible opportunity here.

Sign up for our new weight loss plan.  By incorporating established science we can help you lose over 35% of your body mass by simple dehydration.  Backpackers for years have reduced the mass of their loads by carrying dehydrated items.  Why not take this to the next level and dehydrate yourself.  Call now to schedule an appointment for your exsanguination.  Don't worry your blood will be preserved should you ever need it later or you can have it donated to the blood bank of your choice and receive a generous tax credit.