Hiking in a heatwave

[lemoncake29]

A group of 8 friends have arranged to meet this Friday for a hike followed by a pub lunch. We don’t get together often due to living far apart and kids etc. It will be the last time we all get together til Christmas I suspect. I’ve booked annual leave and sorted childcare and was looking forward to it.
We are all seasoned hikers and planned to do a trail that’s roughly 17 miles in a popular but remote spot. It’s about an hour drive away from me.
With the forecast now set to be over 30 degrees on Friday some of the group have suggested we skip the hike altogether and just go to the pub, others have suggested we shorten the route but a few want to go ahead with the original plan and just prepare well.
Personally I’m on team pub but since we can’t all agree there is a bit of tension building and it’s threatening to ruin the whole get together. Aibu to think it’s too hot for this sort of activity?

And if you have that kind of heat every semmer all the time then you are acclimated to it.The majority of British people are not because we don't have that kind of heat in summer. That is why we call that sort of temperatire a heatwave and not average!

I think 17 miles is too long .in the heat.no one will enjoy it fully.i would plump for the pub.you can always meet again maybe at Christmas or something. You can please all of the people some of the time or some people all of the time as the saying goes

I had hoped as a society that we'd moved past the rhetoric that men enjoy being physical and pushing themselves, while women enjoy sitting around chatting and eating cake.

I'd be team pub even without the heatwave

I'm the last person to think that, but I have been in plenty of mixed groups where men are pushing for intense physical activity in ridiculous weather and women get disregarded. I do think that particularly in running, cycling and hiking groups it is often men who see the physical activity as the activity, not the social aspect. That's why I only go on the local cycling club's women's group rides. The mixed group doesn't seem to understand that some women have different physical needs in middle age.

All the Lowland & Mountain rescues are asking people NOT to go on long hikes in what is considered to be extreme heat for this country

All depends on what is on the route ie places where you can get water & your levels of experience.

Hiking in the lanes in Cornwall is totally different to one across Dartmoor etc

But if you're all falling out now, i'd skip it.

When I used to go hiking we used to do "Figure of 8 hikes." The route on the maps was like a number 8.

This meant the seasoned hikers could do the whole of the "8" and the slower walkers could just do the lower part of the "8", At some time us slower walkers would meet up with the "pros" when the two loops intersected.

It worked OK.

If the ones who want the long hike are pissed off by the idea of not seeing every one else for more than an hour or two , then the solution is entirely in their control - they just need to prioritise their friends over a long walk.
They physically can walk a shorter distance (just would prefer not to), the rest of the group simply can’t all do the full distance. It wouldn’t matter if the majority in the group could manage 17 miles; if any person can’t then the whole group can’t.

It’s something you have to adjust to as you get older, some people stay totally fit and healthy, others don’t. We’ve had to adjust to DH not being able to do all the things we’d like to be able to do (it’s not a purely male/female divide!) - there’s zero point me sulking about it. Much better to enjoy a shady stroll by a river than be bent out of shape because we can’t climb a mountain. (We’re in snowdonia at the moment, this is reality).

I’m a very fit hiker and did a similar hike to this during a heatwave. Ended up with heatstroke. I hydrated properly, electrolytes, paced correctly, started early, the lot. Everyone’s body reacts differently to conditions (like altitude sickness, it’s random), and I don’t think it’s fair to ask people to hike when they have concerns about it. Seems like you all have other hiking opportunities since you go often, so skip it or just go for a nice walk.

Hiking in conditions that you aren't repaired for puts the rescue teams at risk.

Anyone who enjoys this sports should respect them, as you never know when you might need them.

I think the issue is that everyone has very different views on what it means to hike in this heat. We have all done this kind of distance before but never in such hot weather.
The ones in favour of it are very much “it’s just a bit of warm weather, prepare and it’ll be fine” whereas others (myself included) are concerned about it being potentially dangerous with things such as heat stroke, along with being just not very enjoyable. We are all of a similar age and fitness but it’s getting everyone to think the same that is the issue.
I for one won’t be entertaining it and if the others cave and decide to go for it I’ll just skip the whole thing as I’m not going to sit in a pub all day alone waiting for them.

I have walked up hills in 40 degree heat in Germany And had a lovely time and we weren’t the only people out abs about

you need plenty of fluid ( the German huts are great for extra litres of juice) and it’s very slow

17 miles would be at least 6 hrs ( Naismith - but unless it’s easy terrain most people don’t do that ) I would thing it would be easily 9hrs in the heat so I would shorten the distance

Anyone suggesting 17 miles in 30 degree heat is an idiot. Did people learn nothing from Michael Mosley (yes it was hotter but he died after walking a couple of miles). Also 17 mile hike sounds awful and you can’t do that before lunch unless you run it.

Shorten the walk (bonus points if it can be more shady/ near water)
Meet at the pub for lunch with non-walkers before the hottest part of the afternoon.

DS recently did his DoE expedition in 30⁰C. They were relieved of their tents to ease the weight of their packs but were otherwise fine.

What is a "pro-hiker"?

I hike long distances over 3-4 weeks and do lots of day hikes. I won't hike in 30 degree heat. It's foolhardy. You have to carry so much water to cope with the hear which makes your pack heavy. The heat puts extra strain on all your organs. There's the risk of heatstroke etc.

17 miles is too far and you are setting off too late, plus you are hiking over the hottest part of the day.

If everyone set off at 7 am and did a shorter hike and were in the pub by 11 at the latest that would be ok. The plan as it is is idiotic.
Remember what happened with Michael Mosley and people on here were calling him all sorts for being foolhardy and now you've got some people on this thread saying toughen up.

I would say I'd meet them in the pub if they refuse to change the start time or length.

Start earlier and take loads of water, wear a hat.

It was a lot hotter - 40'C and he was on his own, with limited water, just 1 litre, he took a wrong turn and ended up in a remote area, without a phone plus he was in his late 60s.

With adequate water, fitness and pacing, its all possible, it wont be 30'C for all of the walk... but it all depends on where the walk is taking place, out on the moors miles from anywhere or on country lanes, through villages?

the 2 are completely different.

What is a "pro-hiker"?

Apparently someone who doesn't know that in groups hikes you adjust to the "weakest" point in the group. Not meaning that as in people are weak. But you do not deliberately set out on a hike with people saying that they do not think they can manage it in the group! There are plenty of examples of people not managing things they think they can do. You don't insist on people doing a hike they are not comfortable with. No exceptions.

Heat affects different people in different ways. I would suffer a lot if I attempted that, but my DH would probably be fine. it's unfair of others to try and force the group to go ahead if some have concerns (which are very valid).

You're being rude and inconsiderate.
Someone could literally be risking their life walking in great heat, long distance, presumably out in the open and miles from anywhere. Most people aren't used to it like you are.
There's nothing "pathetic" about being concerned under the circumstances especially if you've got dependents.

Give it a rest. At the end of this week I'll be spending 3 days working 36hrs or so rushing around in a kitchen where it will reach around 40°c, higher when I'm in the oven, over the hobs for extended periods & I wouldn't dream of going for a long walk in 30°c

I can't relate at all. In the running and Cross Fit groups I'm in, the middle aged women are just as hard core as the men - as am I!

By pro hiker I meant those who are in favour of doing the hike, not professional hiker. None of us are professional, we have just done a number of long walks/hikes together over the years.

It depends on the terrain really, what sort of walk is it OP? Coastal or mountain?