If all you crave for, in your daily noons is a patch of shade or a long sip of water, then you are aware that before going for a trek, you better take some logical steps. The wanderlust soul in you won’t let you stay at home, and to complete the mission of the trek, you would want to know how to deal with the extreme heat situations.

The weather can challenge you with its strong ultra-violet rays, or sometimes humidity causing nausea, dizziness, hyperthermia, sunburns, dehydration, an unconscious state of mind, and can put you in other tricky situations too. The overexposure in the Sun with increased physical activity may initiate heatstrokes, so you better be careful. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Headache is considered as one of the most common symptoms of heat stress disorders”. The water and salt levels in your body shoot down, causing uneasiness by making you feel all giddy.

Lately, treks are taking over the travelers market with its viral tendencies of inspiring the masses. Social media has given a new voice to the travel industry by sharing the personal experiences of hikers, backpackers, trekkers, photographers, etc. This influential power has spread in India like fire, as the new trend to explore untouched places like Trekking in Ladakh has become a kink for the curious ones. Trekking in India is not an easy thing to do, especially during the summers, because of the diversification in the terrains, but it’s a whole different experience which needs a separate article for itself.

If the body temperature touches 40-degree Celsius or above, then it can be dangerous for your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. So, we have our list of tips for trekking in hot weather.

Top 5 Tips for trekking in hot weather

1. Weather Conditions

Mountains have the history of surprising you at every step, not just on the ground, but it also reflects in their unpredictable weather conditions.

Make sure you go through the weather forecast, even the sky looks like the clearest blue you have ever seen. As a matter of fact, thunderstorms usually occur when the weather is hot. Crazy right? So, do not take the weather so lightly especially if you are a beginner who is excited and ready to enter the wild. 

Keep yourself prepared for the worst case scenario.

2. Start Early

Prolonged exposure in excessive heat may cause you headaches after sweating. You may fall unconscious, or lose a lot of energy just by being under the direct sunlight. Therefore, the best tip for any trek is to start early in the morning.

A fresh start, much before the sunrise is the perfect time to save your energy for the rest of the trek without feeling lazy about it.

3. Layers of Clothing

Check your gear before stepping in or enrolling into a long trek. Start with shorter routes in the beginning, and be all decked up with the essentials like a cap, windcheaters, sweat-proof or dry-fit clothes, etc. Keep your head covered from the heat. Also, try to go for pants to avoid minor cuts and injuries in the forests or barren lands.

For insulation purpose, you may have to wear layers of light clothes. It sounds odd, but it certainly is the way to go ahead. Synthetic fibers or polyester material clothes are perfect for the trek, to prevent you from chafing as well.

Keep your sunscreen, sunglasses handy.

4. Hydration Support

Definitely, keep yourself hydrated with water and some vitamin C drinks. Do not drink too much at once, take 2-3 sips to basically rinse your mouth time to time during the tiring trek. Consuming too much may give you chest pain, and losing all the water may cause you trouble for the rest of the trek since you have got to purify water.

Other than that, do bring a few salty snacks of your choice. Energy bars are a good way to keep yourself going, to re-charge yourself.

5. Take Regular Breaks

Do not hesitate to stop once in a while and capture the view in your heart. Taking regular but short breaks is an excellent way to finish your trek as early as possible. This will make you mentally satisfied, and physically able to finish your trek.

These breaks will make you realize how important it is to know about your trail so that you can pick the perfect trekking shoes for your trek.

Don’t let the hot weather stop you from pursuing your trekking goals. Instead, be the ‘star’ of the trek by considering these tips.

Give a hand to your mates, cheer-up the strangers, motivate people, and help them out as you move forward. These are the values of a true trekker.