Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke
You may have seen “Excessive Heat Warnings” for the Grand Canyon region. Rain or shine, hot or cold, Grand Canyon raft trips and hikes run as scheduled.
Grand Canyon is a place of extremes, and always has been. It is fairly typical for the region to be pretty darn hot this time of year. The most important thing is to be prepared for the “excessive” heat. Our guides will help you figure this out, but you should make sure to take good care and notice of yourself and your family/friends. Here are a few tips to help prepare you for rafting/hiking/camping in the Grand Canyon heat…
- Cover up, wear light-weight, breathable long sleeves, pants and big sun hats.
- Get wet! At every opportunity, dunk yourself or your hat or shirt to keep cool. This applies to sitting on the boat as well as hiking in/out of the Canyon.
- Hydrate and eat food before you are even thirsty or hungry. Eating is a big part of the equation, even if you don’t feel hungry — you need to make sure to keep the essential electrolytes on board and not just flush them out with water. Notice the color of your urine, it should be a light yellow and well-hydrated folks likely will need to use the restroom at each rest stop.
- Listen to your body! The slightest hint of a headache, upset stomach or (abnormal) moodiness may be a sign you are over/under-hydrated. Stay tuned in to what your body is telling you and talk with your guide if it feels off.
- Take shade breaks while hiking; sit and put your feet up for a few minutes every mile or so.
- Hike at a slow, even pace. Don’t huff and puff — no need to waste any more energy than necessary!
There are lots of tricks to cool down in this heat. Some love cooling towels to hang around their necks. Some think cotton clothing is ideal, so it stays wet and can give an “evap cooling” effect. I, personally, love my sarong — I get it wet and drape it over my head and body like a big shawl.
Have a great trip, stay cool, and enjoy Grand Canyon!
