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?

Every time you go for a walk you risk you life ( cars killing pedestrians is very common£

• what matter is “ would the increase in risk to life caused by the temperature be unreasonable or even measurable under th assumption that the walkers engage their brains and slow down/ drink properly / wear a hat etc “

in 2024 there were no heat associated deaths in the population under aged 75 according to the government report despite there being 4 heat incidents and a significant increase in deaths in older people

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-2024/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-2024

In London on Friday it is forecast to reach 28 by 1 pm which is the latest I would like my lunch so all the talk of 30 is pointless

it would be unpleasant to try and do 17 miles fast on that day and make you prone to heat related problems but a shorter walk ( say 9 to 12 ) covering 6 miles would not in my books be foolish or risky

Do a shorter walk and then lunch. Those who want to could do an additional walk after lunch

The ones getting arsey sound childish. Why don't you suggest they do soft play instead followed by a milkshake

Start earlier, shorten the route and wear light clothing with lots of drinks.

Didn't do what I said above in similar temperatures a year ago and got heat exhaustion (I wasn't the only one) It wasn't fun. Personally I'd be on team pub.

Team pub!!

Some people cope better with heat than others, and the smug, dismissive tone of people who would routinely run a marathon through the fires of hell is really pissing me off.

It does get hot in the UK, even in mountains. This is a real danger, not just people being pathetic about less than perfect weather.
I was walking in the Brecon Beacons on the same day when three fit, young soldiers died of heatstroke. It was hot and horrible. It wasn't 30c.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45510004.amp

OP if you know you are unaffected by heat, AND you can carry plenty of water, AND you have an exit plan if you struggle, then go for it. If you choose not to walk, then anyone who tries to bully or shame you is the pathetic one.

Having twice passed out on an exposed hike in the heat I'd say shorten it, not worth the risk.

I had heat exhaustion after walking in a very exposed area despite wearing a hat, lots of water etc. nasty and it took a week for me to feel like myself again.

Has the heat distorted their logic? You can't make people do a walk they don't want to. Why must all 17 be together at once the whole period? Pah, state what you're prepared to do & leave the others to their own decisions.

I don’t think anyone is trying to force anyone else. It’s more just a general difference of opinion within the group and those that are in favour of going ahead can’t grasp why others are concerned. It’s still rattling on and at this rate I think I will be sitting it out altogether. It’s 28 degrees where we are today and I couldn’t imagine walking in this never mind hotter!

I would never agree to doing a hike in that heat. I've always felt really unwell going into the sun at all when it's so hot, especially if there's no cloud cover or wind. If it's 30 degrees I'd ideally just stay inside the whole time.

It's really fucking annoying when people think 'oh it's fine for me to hike in 30 degrees so it's fine for everyone else too'.

Brilliant 😂😂😂!!

I would only hike in a shady area. Is there wood land in the area? Heatstroke is no fun.

Can’t they grasp that some of you know you simply won’t enjoy walking that far in the warmth, even if you are perfectly capable of doing it? whereas you should all be able to enjoy a different one which was shorter and/or maybe shadier or whatever.

Crazy to do such distances in 30c. You can't prepare for heat stroke it's just what happens when you hike in the heat.

The ones for it are being reckless. Tell them the only sensible option is the pub.

I would be willing to hike around a treacherous pub garden in order to scale a bench, with added distance to and from the bar for those keen to cover more ground

Don't hike in a heatwave, look at what happened to Michael Mosely last year.

So it has been decided that the route can be cut down to 10 miles but I’ve been out and about in the heat today and I don’t think I even want to do that. Plus the whole thing has been such a drama fest I’ve lost all interest now. I think I’m out.

It's like these people who go up a mountain in a blizzard without a compass or even a map then need rescuing. Hikes and climbs are not advised in adverse weather and 30c is nice for pub gardens not for hiking.

Are the people in the group older, young, not very bright, what?

It depends what you mean by hike. Amble on the flat, or climb a mountain?

I walked the dog early this morning even then it was too warm for brisk walking. I was out for an hour and that was enough. No chance would I do 10 miles in 30c.

Disappointing op but definitely leave them to it. They'll make themselves ill.

No way would I want to walk ten miles in 30C, particularly not after a pub lunch as any booze at all sends me straight to sleep.

The route is flat, not mountainous. We are all mid 30s and relatively fit. I just think it will be really hard in the heat.

Was just going to ask about the route. I’ve walked that distance when it was 28C in the Lakes, but I climbed early in the day and then it was mainly on mountains where it was quite a bit cooler and very windy! Going back down was brutal though (and I took the boat back instead of walking the last bit) and I’d definitely be “out” walking that distance in the heat.