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Camping in a Thunderstorm
Although you try to keep tabs of the weather forecast, you find that this particular day, you’ve simply watched the weather by looking at the sky. And although the sky was relatively clear at dawn when you fished, you noticed that by lunchtime it had gotten cloudy and, in the afternoon, downright dark.
In this situation, a thunderstorm might be headed your way. But you’ve got an entire campsite built for relatively mild weather, and no where in particular to go for the evening. What exactly can you do? In this article, you’ll learn how to weather a thunderstorm effectively when you’re camping with your family.
Lightning
First things first: the most crucial issue will be safety, and this means avoiding lightning as best as possible. Being outside during a thunderstorm can be downright dangerous, so you’ll want to pay attention to these tips.
First, seek shelter as quickly as possible. If this means abandoning your campsite, you should still do it. Put out your fire with a bucket of water (you should always keep one handy just in case) and find a place where you’ll be protected from lightning.If this is impossible, you’ll want to follow a few rules of thumb. First of all, avoid being the tallest object in the area – get low to the ground by squatting, not lying down. Make sure that you don’t squat under the tallest tree, either.
Make sure you also avoid wires and fence lines, and other metal objects that can move electricity from one area to another.
In order to gauge where lightning is, keep track of the time between a flash and the sound of thunder – five seconds usually means roughly a mile. This information won’t be of much use, as you should try to seek shelter anyway.
Your Campsite
If your campsite is on a hill or comprises the tallest objects around, you shouldn’t try to stick around or seek shelter in your tents. All tents will do is shelter you from rain; it’s better to be stuck in the rain then it is to be exposed to a greater chance of getting hit by lightning.
If you can, get into a vehicle – the metallic frame disperses much of the electric current of a lightning blast. If there is no other shelter, getting into your car is one of your best options; it shelters you from rain and helps protect against lightning.
Most importantly, the best way to camp in a thunderstorm is to stay prepared. Bring a radio or GPS watch that will help you forecast the weather; if you know a thunderstorm might be coming hours in advance, you’ll be able to make necessary changes and adapt. If you get stuck in one, however, you might potentially be in harm’s way.
Photo Credits: nebelkerze
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How to Hike in the Heat
For many hikers who hate to waste a hot summer Saturday, going hiking can be a thrilling – and exhausting – experience. But with today’s medical technology, we know just how dangerous it can be to become dehydrated and how quickly a slight case of dehydration can turn into heatstroke. But if you don’t have any other time or climate to hike the trail other than when it’s completely hot, how can you avoid the problems of heat? Here are a few tips.
Next, make sure that you wear as much white as you can. White reflects the sun’s light, helping to keep your clothes more cool. White shorts and a white T-shirt will help your cause; wearing dark clothes will absorb more light and more heat, making things more difficult for you.
First, make sure that you’re cleared for hot hiking in the first place. Watch for heat advisories – many times on the radio they will announce these advisories with regularity on the news stations. If your doctor has told you to avoid exercising strenuously, you don’t want to go out in the heat – even simply walking for an extended period of time can be tough on your body.You’ll also want to consider how to exactly replace what you lose when you sweat. Many people drink plenty of water but find that it doesn’t always replenish them in terms of how they feel: that’s because when you sweat, you also lose other electrolytes like salt and potassium. Bring some pretzels and bananas to snack on so that you can help replace these electrolytes. They won’t be able to keep you going forever, but they’ll help you feel satisfied. Don’t overdo it with the salt: remember that salt can have a dehydrating effect. Simply nibble.
Finally, avoiding the heat means trying to get out when the sun is not at its brightest – avoid the lunchtime hours and try to hike in the early morning or late evening if you can. If your hike needs to wait, go in the early evening before the sun starts setting; otherwise, make plans to hike the day before, when you can control how early you wake up.
Heat can be a tough thing to worry about while you’re exercising, but if you’re in good physical shape, it’s not something that can stop you from enjoying your active hobbies.
Photo Credits: Ken Lund
