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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: rural roamer on 12:21:42, 24/07/19

Title: Walking in this heat
Post by: rural roamer on 12:21:42, 24/07/19
Is anyone doing much walking in this heat? A short local walk early or late is enough for me.


Doing long distance walks most years I‘ve always dreaded being on a walk when the temperature gets much higher than the mid 20’s as I’m not great in the heat.  I’d much rather have it cold or wet, at least you can put warm or waterproof clothing on, but not much you can do about extreme heat. And then there’s the thunderstorms. Luckily we seem to have so far mostly coincided with cooler wetter weather,usually walking in June or September. The only time we had it really hot was the last two days of Hadrians Wall. The last but one day I got hikers rash badly and my ankles started to swell up. On the last day I wore my walking shoes rather than boots as I correctly predicted my ankles may get worse. It was over 30C the last day but it was flat and a breeze at least. If we still had another day to walk I wouldn’t have been able to. Heading home the following day down the A1 ( airconditioning broken in the car!) we encountered torrential rain and thunderstorms - finished just in time! If we were walking this week I think I would probably have to abandon it.


I remember when we did the C2C in terrible weather, B&Bs near the end were telling us they had quite a few cancellations back in the March when there had had been an unexpected heatwave and people were giving up due to heat exhaustion.  I guess a lot of people do it then f they don’t like the heat!  
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: happyhiker on 16:37:07, 24/07/19
Too hot for me. I get so sweaty. On a recent holiday in Dorset, had to keep walks short because of the heat. Good excuse for a pint though!
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Mel on 18:22:07, 24/07/19
Too hot for me too.  I went and sat in our gym at work earlier because it's the only room with air conditioning... and I hate air conditioning!


Deffo no walking for me whilst it's this hot and I really feel for anyone who's part-way through a multi-day trip at the moment.



Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Dovegirl on 19:10:53, 24/07/19
Bucking the trend but I love this weather.  I walked on the South Downs today and it was glorious.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 19:19:26, 24/07/19
My thermometer nudged close to 31C here in Dyffryn, and that was in the shade, and unlike recent days, there was little wind. 8)

I did venture out for a short walk to Cwm NantCol this morning, only a distance of around five miles through the lovely country lanes,  but the heat was so savage, it was very unpleasant.


When conditions are this extreme, its advisable to cancel that walk, as it would be virtually impossible to carry sufficient water to combat dehydration.

No walk is vital, and with temperatures set to possibly break all time records for July, with a possibility of 39C in parts of the South East tomorrow, it would be crazy to venture out in 100 F.

If your already prepared for tomorrows walk, then try and remain hydrated, as it will be virtually impossible to satay out of the heat.

I do feel sorry for the emergency services, as they have to work in such temperatures, They have my utmost respect.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: tonyk on 19:29:08, 24/07/19
.


When conditions are this extreme, its advisable to cancel that walk, as it would be virtually impossible to carry sufficient water to combat dehydration.
Not so.In this heat 2-3 litres is quite adequate to remain hydrated.Soak your shirt before the walk and that will help keep you cool.


Quote
I do feel sorry for the emergency services, as they have to work in such temperatures, They have my utmost respect.
.
 They do a fine job but there are far worse jobs when it comes to heat,ie,working in a steel works,fish and chip shop or kitchen,and sweeping roads,emptying bins.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:33:59, 24/07/19
I much prefer the cold to heat, especially when exercising (including walking). I wouldn’t try anything too strenuous in the current temperatures. As a student I worked in the Mr Kipling factory / bakery. As well as putting me off the products for life, I still remember how uncomfortable it was to work in the stifling temperatures.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:38:52, 24/07/19
Actually, I remember walking in the French Alps when it was 35 degrees in the valleys. I don’t remember the heat causing me particular problems then. However, that was 19 years and several stones ago.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: ninthace on 19:41:26, 24/07/19
Funny old thing - in Kuwait we worked from 0600 to past 2400hr  for up to 4 weeks at a stretch and somehow it was not as unpleasant as it can be here.  The temperature on the way to work, at dawn, was usually already over 26C, I think it must be a humidity thing as the air was a dry as a bone.
My last trip to Austria was a case in point - on top of the mountain with a light breeze 26C was tolerable but in the valley, without a breath of air, life was quite unpleasant.
Good luck to those in the SE tomorrow, the forecast looks unpleasant.  We are off to Dartmoor where the forecast is better: 21C (18 with wind chill) 60% humidity.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:55:03, 24/07/19
I have worked in the UAE in summer. The hotel room air on does manage to get the temperature down to 35 degrees at night. I was once picked up by the hotel car at 1am and the temperature was 42 degrees. 55 degrees in the shade during the day and surprisingly humid - not good for walking.


Last February while at a conference in Perth, the day a friend and I chose to walk up Jacob’s Ladder to King’s Park was the hottest of year at 38 degrees and very humid - not the best choice of activity when there are 242 steps.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: bricam2096 on 20:34:13, 24/07/19
Should try being a Postie in this heat. I'm a roasty toasty Postie.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: BuzyG on 21:08:23, 24/07/19
Happily, it's not so hot in the far SW this week.  Quite pleasant out this evening.  :)
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: April on 22:41:43, 24/07/19
Should try being a Postie in this heat. I'm a roasty toasty Postie.

 ;D

On Monday and today I walked home from town rather than waiting 28 minutes for the next bus which would then be sitting in the traffic queues due to roadworks. It is almost 3 miles. I beat the bus home by 5 minutes each time. When I got home on Monday and tonight I spent 10 minutes in the shower cooling off so I might as well have just waited for the bus  ::)
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Mel on 22:43:23, 24/07/19
.. far worse jobs when it comes to heat,ie,working in a ... fish and chip shop ....


 :'(  that'll be me tomorrow afternoon/evening then  :(


Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Mel on 22:51:11, 24/07/19
Ha! The Beeb weather forecast has just made me chuckle.  After hearing about record breaking temperatures for tomorrow we were reassured that there would be a breeze.... "the kind of breeze you get when you open a fan oven door" was what he said.


Made me laugh out loud that did  ;D



Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 05:30:37, 25/07/19
This heat makes me glad I live in north east Scotland now, rather than the south coast of England where I hail from. It has only been mid 20s here and that has seemed much too hot to me.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: happyhiker on 08:58:46, 25/07/19
Funny old thing - in Kuwait we worked from 0600 to past 2400hr  for up to 4 weeks at a stretch and somehow it was not as unpleasant as it can be here.  The temperature on the way to work, at dawn, was usually already over 26C, I think it must be a humidity thing as the air was a dry as a bone.
My last trip to Austria was a case in point - on top of the mountain with a light breeze 26C was tolerable but in the valley, without a breath of air, life was quite unpleasant.
Good luck to those in the SE tomorrow, the forecast looks unpleasant.  We are off to Dartmoor where the forecast is better: 21C (18 with wind chill) 60% humidity.


Definitely is the humidity which does it. I have been lucky enough to visit Egypt and the Atacama Desert. In both places the sun was fierce and you had to take sensible cover up precautions but because the air was as dry as the proverbial bone, the heat was not a problem.


Sudden thought, where does "dry as a bone" come from?
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Rob Goes Walking on 09:08:29, 25/07/19
Sudden thought, where does "dry as a bone" come from?

I had a look on Google but wasn't much help. All I could find out for sure was the first known usage of bone-dry is in the 15th century. An opinion was that it's related to what happens when you leave a bone in the sun, but it was just somebodies opinion.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: fernman on 13:49:04, 25/07/19
Ha! The Beeb weather forecast has just made me chuckle.  After hearing about record breaking temperatures for tomorrow we were reassured that there would be a breeze.... "the kind of breeze you get when you open a fan oven door" was what he said.
Made me laugh out loud that did  ;D

I experienced that once in a heatwave in Greece. Temperature was 42C and when there was a little breeze it felt just like an oven door being opened. All you could do was sit in the edge of the sea under a parasol. Wish I could do that right now! At home it is 36C at this moment, that's 96.8F in old money. I've got nothing on, a pint of cold squash is in front of me, all the windows are open and I've drawn all the curtains. Any activity is completely out of the question. Thank goodness it's forecast to go back to normal next week, then I can go for my next day walk.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: fit old bird on 13:56:11, 25/07/19

I did a 3 mile walk last night at 9pm. I did it again this morning between 9 and 10. Too hot for me. I'm staying indoors. 


ilona
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: tonyk on 13:57:53, 25/07/19
! At home it is 36C at this moment, that's 96.8F in old money. I've got nothing on, a pint of cold squash is in front of me, all the windows are open and I've drawn all the curtains.
Its about 34 C here at the moment.I have got the curtains and windows closed.Apparently it keeps the hot air out and so far it seems to be working.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: ninthace on 15:01:00, 25/07/19
Well we ventured out onto Dartmoor today.  We parked high on the moor at 0900 and set of into the breeze towards Cranmere Pool.  The forecast last night was a max of 21C which, with windchill, should have felt like 18C.  Ha!  The breeze felt like somebody had left the oven door open and when we got back, the car thermometer showed 28 even after we got moving.  Fortunately, I took 3 litres of water with us and we certainly needed it though with the wind it was hot rather than sweaty.
The outside temperature sensor on the shady N side of my house that controls our heating is at 27 in the shade and my solar hot water system has tripped off as it has got too hot.  The roof collector is currently at 145C and rising.  Mind you - the post walk shower was piping hot!
I'm glad we are cooler in the SW - heaven help the SE!
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: roughyed on 15:23:19, 25/07/19
I did about 7 miles and finished probably a mile or 2 'early'.  Just too hot (obviously!).


I set off at 9:30 and was back at the car around 1, I had wanted to be out at least an hour earlier.  Planned the walk to be mainly in woodland so shady, that bit worked, just overheated a bit still.  Had loads of water on me (3 litres +), and some of it went over the head to help with evaporation.  Was tough.


Car was saying 36+ when I got back, and it was in the shade. 
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Pitboot on 18:37:53, 25/07/19
Having been the victim of heat exhaustion, a long time ago in a foreign country, I would not risk it again. But mrs P and I love to walk, so we find a nice lake and bimble along around it at a steady pace, not pushing ourselves, drinking and resting where we want. We have found some beautiful picnic spots like this so hot weather has its uses.


To digress slightly, I see that some rail companies are worried about rails buckling in the heat. Surely the engineers who build the systems know that metal expands when heated? (Maybe one for the small rant thread here.)
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: pauldawes on 19:00:23, 25/07/19
First Thursday I haven’t gone out for a longish walk for months...it wouldn’t have been remotely enjoyable.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: BuzyG on 19:09:01, 25/07/19
Headed to the indoor climbing wall this evening, like I do most Thursdays after work.  More staff than climbers.  Me I lasted about 45 mins before I could take no more of slipping off the sweaty holds. May nip out for a few quick local miles after the cycling.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Owen on 19:09:50, 25/07/19



To digress slightly, I see that some rail companies are worried about rails buckling in the heat. Surely the engineers who build the systems know that metal expands when heated? (Maybe one for the small rant thread here.)




Victorian engineers used to leave a half inch gap between rails, the fish plates had slots in them where the bolts went through. Now they use continuous welded rails, so nowhere for the gap. That's progress for you.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: ninthace on 19:10:21, 25/07/19
To digress slightly, I see that some rail companies are worried about rails buckling in the heat. Surely the engineers who build the systems know that metal expands when heated? (Maybe one for the small rant thread here.)
They do - the bean counters decide how much the engineers can spend stopping it happening.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: BuzyG on 19:17:13, 25/07/19
They do - the bean counters decide how much the engineers can spend stopping it happening.
Ah, the bean counter Vs the engineer.  That could be a lengthy thread.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Dovegirl on 19:44:08, 25/07/19
I walked along Brighton seafront and on top of the cliffs this afternoon, and for some while it was very overcast with even a few spots of rain.  It was only as I was coming back that it became sunny.  Crowds on the front.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: richardh1905 on 20:35:16, 25/07/19
I once measured 46 degrees C in the Indus Valley, and that was at 6pm in the evening when things were starting to cool down. Secret of survival - stay out of the sun, do as little as possible, and drink loads of water.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: BuzyG on 23:08:15, 25/07/19
I once measured 46 degrees C in the Indus Valley, and that was at 6pm in the evening when things were starting to cool down. Secret of survival - stay out of the sun, do as little as possible, and drink loads of water.
Got me there. 44°C is my pb for suffering heat.  That was in Karachi.  I see it was only 30°C there today.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Islandplodder on 10:50:29, 26/07/19
This whole heatwave thing is by-passing the Hebrides.  Grrrr! I'm jealous!  Why can't you send some of your weather up here?
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: myxpyr on 19:26:55, 26/07/19
I went out yesterday intending to do a seven mile linear walk and getting the bus back. I got out of the car and realised what a scorcher it was.
I finished up doing five miles round Llyn Idwal. Every time I needed a break I crawled into the shade of the nearest big boulder. I felt like a beetle :2funny: (Couldn't find a smiley for a beetle)
Had an ice cream back at the Brewshack
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: sunnydale on 04:59:11, 28/07/19
I’ve only coped with the heat this last week coz I’ve been at the coast! I spent a lot of time walking in the edge of the sea! :D


Cool feet really helps to regulate the body’s overall temperature. It worked for me, anyway! 8)
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: richardh1905 on 07:57:27, 28/07/19

Nice idea, Sunnydale. :)



Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 10:37:42, 28/07/19
Only issues i have with being on the coast, last week, was it was simply too hot.
Last Thursday afternoon, it reached 32C in Dyffryn, and the humidity was crippling.
Even at the shore line in Barmouth, it was still unbearable for those who hate such conditions, which includes me.

Thankfully the Atlantic has brought in much cooler unsettled weather.

Its back to a more manageable 18C today- much much nicer weather.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: sunnydale on 19:22:13, 28/07/19
Only issues i have with being on the coast, last week, was it was simply too hot.



Most folk like it hot when they're at the coast ::)


Personally, I find it's much more unbearable inland.
Title: Re: Walking in this heat
Post by: roughyed on 09:49:02, 29/07/19
A video from last week and walking in the heat, the walk ended early despite taking a few precautions. 

https://youtu.be/_BOK8qfVr-4