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More than 70 summers ago before air conditioning was the norm in NYC my mother did just that to cool me down during hot/humid weather. Some tricks never go out of fashion!...
Also, it helps me sleep at night in such heat if I lay a cold, wet towel over my body. I may have to get up and wet th towel again during the night, but it is worth it.
My two cents Rachel: be careful of Aquarius--its made by Coca/Cola and that means sugar--just like Gatorade and that will work against you in the heat. There's a reason running coaches ban Gatorade from summer heat workouts. Read up on it and Aquarius before drinking it to stay hydrated. I think you'll change your mind...instead try water with electrolytes the night before and during, coconut water (know it's not readily available on the Camjno), bananas and chocolate milk (afterwards for recovery). Talk to elite runners--they won't go near thus stuff.Yesterday this memory popped up for me on Facebook from July 4, 2015, one year ago:
"Checking in from Los Arcos. Arrived at 12pm after 6 hours 45 minutes of walking. Last time I walked this stretch was 2011 and it was nice to see again. Some changes, new water fountain in the middle of nowhere... helpful in 37 degrees Celcius heat. Feeling it right now, in bed resting. Need more water and a good healthy dinner tonight. Heatwave ridiculous, but thankful for good friends to lean in with."
It's easy to forget sometimes how hot it can be on the Camino for hours and hours of walking, and that day from Estella to Los Arcos was a scorcher. The night I slept in Zubiri last year was the hottest most miserable (and mostly sleepless) night I've spent on the Camino so far, and the night in Estella was a close second. Hot and stuffy! There was also a heat wave in 2012 when I walked in June-July. I got up and went outside at midnight in Castrojeriz, just to feel some air moving at all.
I'll be walking the Camino Francés again in about three weeks and I still have some packets of the electrolyte powder I bought in Los Arcos last year. A woman from Norway who'd ended up in hospital for three days in Pamplona (after collapsing of dehydration in Zubiri) had given me one of her packets in Estella and I found more at a farmacia when I got to Los Arcos. She'd always thought that if you drink enough water on a hot day, that would be enough. But while the volume of water she consumed was adequate, she wasn't replacing the salts she sweated out (that's in layman's terms, I'm sure the doctor at the hospital explained it more scientifically than that).
I start walking early in the day, make sure I carry at least one litre of water, I'll have the electrolyte packets with me, and I'll have some Aquarius to drink too (it only took me until my 4th Camino to realise Aquarius is similar to Gatorade). That and enjoying little pockets of shade and breeze when they appear, for as long as they last. My sunhat helps too!
Rachel
Intense heatwave sees temperatures soar across Spain
The capital, Madrid, also recorded a maximum of 37C on Sunday, above the average June and July temperature of 27C and 31C respectively. Highs in Madrid have exceeded 33C every day since June 20.
My two cents Rachel: be careful of Aquarius--its made by Coca/Cola and that means sugar--just like Gatorade and that will work against you in the heat. There's a reason running coaches ban Gatorade from summer heat workouts. Read up on it and Aquarius before drinking it to stay hydrated. I think you'll change your mind...instead try water with electrolytes the night before and during, coconut water (know it's not readily available on the Camjno), bananas and chocolate milk (afterwards for recovery). Talk to elite runners--they won't go near thus stuff.
Rachel,
My husband and I probably crossed paths with you last year. We were through Los Arcos on July 7th, but because of a stress fracture in my left foot, we moved along slowly. How could anyone walk quickly in those furnace temps, anyway?
Not sure which part of Canada you're from, but we are roasting in St. Catharines, ON today. The Golden Horseshoe is expecting temperatures in the low 30s. Thought I might strap on my backpack and practise for next summer's Camino.
~Penny
I used the Euroschirm umbrella last Summer, for the VdlP, not the Camino francés. I have the one with the silver lining, hands free and it was great. Made a lot of difference for long treks without any shade. Not sure we could have walked so many kms/day without it....It would be interesting to see what relief, if any, an umbrella with UV protection might provide in such heat.
One litre of water is likely not enough to carry in high heat, unless you are also drinking a litre at every fountain.
Last year on the EPW it was 37-38 degrees. I drank more than 7 litres of fluid and still only had one call of nature.
Buen hydration!
Saw a few links today on BBC and here:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/...-temperatures-soar-spain-160704094429055.html
Intense heatwave sees temperatures soar across Spain
Heat warnings issued across the Iberian peninsula as dangerously hot weather sets in.
The capital, Madrid, also recorded a maximum of 37C on Sunday, above the average June and July temperature of 27C and 31C respectively. Highs in Madrid have exceeded 33C every day since June 20.
How are people doing on the Camino with these temperatures?
Yes, it is very, very hot on the Camino.
We finished yesterday. It has been hot for a while, but nothing a few beers couldn't resolve. XSaw a few links today on BBC and here:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/...-temperatures-soar-spain-160704094429055.html
Intense heatwave sees temperatures soar across Spain
Heat warnings issued across the Iberian peninsula as dangerously hot weather sets in.
The capital, Madrid, also recorded a maximum of 37C on Sunday, above the average June and July temperature of 27C and 31C respectively. Highs in Madrid have exceeded 33C every day since June 20.
How are people doing on the Camino with these temperatures?
In Terradillos as I type. V. Hot
Hi - when it is hot out there ... drinking lots of water isn't really enough - one of the main losses through heavy continuous sweating is loss of salt (Sodium and Chloride, two of our electrolytes) and if you get too low then you will have problems, eventually serious problems .. if you are finding that you are feeling weak or faint and/or dizzy or are getting muscle cramps (especially at night) try increasing your salt intake - considerably!! [...plus lots more interesting information...]
What @David has said plus this little test/trick: Put a bit of salt on your hand and lick it, if it tastes good, your body needs more, when the pure salt starts to taste bad, your body has enough.
Also watch the color of your urine, it should be light colored (like Chardonnay ;-) but not dark and concentrated like really old sherry or some whiskeys. Buen Camino, SY
PS. Sorry for the beverage reference, couldn't think of anything else ...
Before you reach for the Gatorade look at the contents label:
View attachment 27632
a litre would give you 56g of sugars equivalent to about 14/15 teaspoons of sugar or about 4x the amount of sugar you'd want and only 110mg of sodium is about 1/5 of your need.
Can I suggest this homebrew:
View attachment 27633
To which I add some fruit juice for flavour and carry two bottles - one of homebrew and one of plain water.
I have just returned from the Camino Mozarabe from Malaga to Cordoba with temperatures around 37 in the afternoon. With plenty water and protection from the sun it was doable but tough. I had a 20km stage with no towns or villages that was actually a bit scary in that heat. Kept a cool head and put my solo wilderness experience to the test that day. Enjoyed the best beer I've ever had at the end of it!Saw a few links today on BBC and here:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/...-temperatures-soar-spain-160704094429055.html
Intense heatwave sees temperatures soar across Spain
Heat warnings issued across the Iberian peninsula as dangerously hot weather sets in.
The capital, Madrid, also recorded a maximum of 37C on Sunday, above the average June and July temperature of 27C and 31C respectively. Highs in Madrid have exceeded 33C every day since June 20.
How are people doing on the Camino with these temperatures?
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