>>2361229>am i just shit out of luck?Yes
t. Louisiananon
The entire region was fucked this season by a very long Indian summer last year and now this retarded heat already. April was truly fucked, with temps shooting up into the upper 80’s by the middle of the month (it’s usually in the upper 70’s).
I just view the summer as the local off-season for hiking and any kind of overnight camping. Sometimes we’ll get lucky in June, and if you’re using a hammock you can sleep comfortably. But July and August are out. September is usually when I take my first trip of the year to the Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama (pretty far for East Texas). It’s not uncommon to have 50° nights and 80° days there in September.
My suggestions for the heat here:
>an umbrella if you’re just hikingEven if it’s mostly shade, whatever sun is getting through the trees won’t be on you. It’s also nice in the scattered showers that blow in from the Gulf.
>60/40 poly-cotton blend tank topsMore breathable and ventilated than a synthetic t-shirt, doesn’t feel like a plastic bag, stays damp but not nearly as clingy and baggy as 100% cotton
>board shorts/swimsuit bottomMega thin and light. Still wear draws though.
>permethrin for all clothingWorks really well for mosquitoes
>electrolyte drink mixesKind of obvious
>hammockIt extends the camping season by being cooler. Literally everyone talks about how you need an underquilt because of heat loss under you and blah blah. When the temps are high, that heat loss isn’t a big, it’s a feature.
>moveOr just plan on bigger, grandiose trips out of town. In 2019 I flew to Portland and took public transit to Mt. Hood, stayed in the lodge, and hiked around the mountain for several days. There are other places accessibly but trains and busses as well (you could rent a car too, but it gets expensive).
