I've been using several tricks to keep me cooler and safer when hiking in the heat of the South. I just got a new map of the Bartram Trail, so I couldn't bear to stay home despite the record 108 temperatures in town. I decided to get to high elevation for an out-and-back dayhike from Osage Mountain Overlook parking area south along the Bartram Trail to Rabun Bald.
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The forecast for the nearest mountain town is 95.
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I got a very early start in the cool of the morning. The trail began in the dense shade of rhododendron thickets.
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Natural air conditioning was plentiful. I took off my shirt, soaked it in the stream, then put it back on, and dunked my head too.
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| The trail south of Osage Overlook had plenty of clear cold water despite the drought. |
Staying hydrated requires that I make sure I eat well too. Many years ago, I got heat exhaustion/ dehydration and ended up with an IV was because I wasn't eating enough salt, electrolytes, and real food. Now I know that if my lips are chapped, if I have a headache, and if I get nauseous, that means I am dehydrated and need to drink and eat. Fresh food, peanut butter, and salty snacks work best for me.
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| Shrimp, corn, okra, and green bean salad. |
I take care to avoid overexerting and getting overheated. I keep my heat rate lower than I would under normal conditions by going more slowly and taking more frequent breaks.
Temperatures drop about 4-5 degrees for every 1000 feet of elevation gained, so I started high, and went up higher.
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| Summit of Rabun Bald (4696 feet), the second highest peak in Georgia. |
For directions:
http://ncbartramtrail.org/section1/
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