[at-l] Hiking in Florida (and other hot places)

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

I wanted to go to the Antarctic when I was in the Army. I was young then and cold didn't bother me so much, besides I grew up where winters routinely had spells of -30? to - 40? weather and occasionally lower. Antarctica is a lot colder than 28? though and I don't deal with cold as well near the end of my 6th decade. As for heat, I've done 20 mile days with 3 major peaks in the high 80s with no wind. I thought there would be a cooling breeze at the summit. No such luck. The air was dead calm. The only time I ever summitted a mountain and there was no wind at all. It *was* humid. I don't know what the percentage was. We had no way of checking. It didn't matter anyway. We set our goal for the day and we did it.

Now I'm not saying we'd have pushed on if anyone was in danger of heat stroke. I've aborted hikes when they posed a danger to one or more of the participants but I learned from running that there's a difference between discomfort and pain. Discomfort is your body complaining about being asked to do something it doesn't like but that doesn't really pose any threat to your well being. Pain (and some other signs) are signals from your brain telling you that what you are doing is causing you damage. Part of running is learning to tell the difference. Sometimes it's a fine line. I suspect that thru-hiking is the same. 

BTW Kelly, my wife has a similar problem with heat. She has a heart/circulation problem. Have you had a good physical lately?
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: KellyGoVols@aol.com 


  In a message dated 7/19/2003 12:59:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, SBLoveDoves@aol.com writes:


    in Antartica!!!

  One of the places on my "to do" list...  I got addicted after reading a book, who's name I cannot remember, by a British Journalist, who's name I cannot remember.  She spent a summer there, and then a year later, a winter.  An amazing, firsthand account of a "civilian" who spent time there.

  It's a lot easier to warm up than cool off.  I reckon I'm just more of a cold climate type of gal.  And don't go reminding me of my hike in Ocala when it was 28 degrees and I nearly froze to death.  I was ill prepared, it being Florida and all.

  Also, your reference to heat stroke?  I literally get exhausted after being in extreme heat after a short period of time.  I sweat, but I swear, I just can't take the heat.  

  KellyGoVols 
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