Well, here we go again. Every year during springtime we sneak a peek at our calendars and dread the rapidly approaching summer. Summer in central and southern Arizona is unlike summer anywhere else. I’m actually starting to get hot just thinking about it. There are all sorts of experts with sage advice on how to successfully survive summer when midday temperatures approach several hundred degrees. I’m not one of these experts, but I do have a few “cool” ideas I’d like to share with you.
First thing to do is stop using the Fahrenheit temperature scale. It is just too depressing for me. I prefer the Celsius scale because it sounds much cooler. For example, what sounds better to you 115 degrees or 46 degrees? I’ll take the 46 every day!
Another one of my keep cool techniques is to leave town. You will have to travel at least 60 miles north of Phoenix to get any relief at all. I recommend traveling 600 miles north. This would place you roughly at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you cannot leave town, find a picture of Jackson Hole and look at it until you figure out how to get there.
Thirdly, I would suggest that anytime you hear someone say, “it sure is hot out today but thank God it’s a dry heat” take their hand and place it on your sweaty neck and ask them “does it really feel dry to you?” You might not feel much cooler if you do this, but eventually we can stop people from saying “but it’s a dry heat.” And that would be “Way Cool!”
On a more serious note, there are several things you can do to keep cool. No real secrets here, you’ve heard it all before. Drink more water than you think you need and drink it before you need it. Wear long sleeves, a hat, sun block and lip balm. Limit your time in the direct sunlight. Grab an ice cream cone. Hike, bird watch, swim, fish, walk or ride your bike at sunrise or sunset instead of during the hottest parts of the day. This is all common sense, isn’t it?
The summer heat should not keep you from enjoying your outdoor life. But be smart about it and take care of yourself and your companions. Summertime offers many great outdoor adventures and you will notice that our parks and trails are not as crowded when it’s hot out. Now that’s the cool part. Get Outdoors!
Chuck Fitzgerald, The Outdoor Guy, has written a beginner’s guide to bird watching call “Learning to Bird.” Visit [http://www.birdwatchingebook.com] to see just how easy and how much fun Bird Watching really is. Chuck is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store helping you to have fun in the great outdoors. To get maximum enjoyment out of your outdoor life, visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com where you’ll find great gear and the Tips & Tales e-newsletter, “FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.
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