Enduring the heat - Prep work

INSANEPOOKIE · Post by **INSANEPOOKIE** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:07 pm

Heya.

[url]http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.d ... Summertime[/url]

The link above is to a Men's Health thingy. It's in regards to helping your body adapt to hot weather.

The interesting points to me were (that would possibly help with scorching desert):

* Studies have shown that the only way to learn to endure heat is to work out in it.
* You don't have to do marathon runs to build up this kind of tolerance.
* You can achieve it in a few days.
* You lose it in a couple of weeks
* You're training yourself to put out diluted sweat -- relatively more water than salt.
* Retaining salt means retaining more muscle tone.
* You also tend to grow thirsty sooner, making you more likely to drink and stay hydrated.

So what I gathered from this article is simply that if where you live is getting up there in temp, acclimate yourself there and perhaps in theory Burning Man will be easier to adjust to, lessening the downtime of the first day.

Just to state, out of my own ingorance I've never been in the desert nor have I experienced the climate. Lucky for me Portland, Oregon has been hella hot (95+ a time or two) and I love to jog in noon-three PM sun. Hopefully this'll help me not DIE.

That's all for the moment.

Post by **trilobyte** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:18 pm

Not sure if this is your first time out there or not, so feel free to disregard if this is old news

Please remember that the playa is what's called "high desert" - that's different than most deserts, which are at much lower elevations. Your sweat will evaporate faster on your skin. In fact, most of the time you won't even think you're sweating. You'll get dehydrated before you even feel thirsty.

Having been out there a few times, and worked on some projects out there, I can tell you from my experience that the best/most important thing you can do to prepare is to start drinking water. I'll start reminding my first-timer campmates next week, just to hydrate. If you can start getting into the routine of drinking water constantly, then you're far less likely to make the mistake of not drinking enough. That's an even bigger risk if you plan on working out in it.

Thanks for the link, though...

~Trilo~

INSANEPOOKIE · Post by **INSANEPOOKIE** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:36 pm

I should have put "Make sure to read the survival guides notes" too. I just found the info about at least getting use to the heat, as much as possible beforehand useful. This reminded me of how sled dogs need to stay outside in freezing cold the majority of time or they can't handle the sub 0 temp as well.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:38 am

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. ALWAYS carry water. I can't tell you how many times I've been lured out into the deep playa by a PrettyShinyArtThing, and then ended up wandering around for hours when really, I had just gotten up and was heading for the portos...

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:17 am

A little birdy told me that if you add some glycerine to your water, the H2O will be nicely retained by your body.

Can someone confirm?

timber mischief · Post by **timber mischief** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:27 am

By the time you feel thirsty your already 10 percent dehydrated. As most of you know, your appetite seems to decrease as you move thru the week. If your only drinking water you're in danger of flushing your electrolites. Not a good thing at all

So, bring powdered gatorade and drink some thru out the day. EmergenC is great in the morning.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 1:07 pm

The first time Louise and I went it hit 107 the day we got there and were trying to set up.

I know this is going to sound insensitive, but I wouldn't worry about a lot of training or preparation for the heat. I'm 59, this'll be my 11th Burn, and Louise and I never do anything special to get ready other than packing. You'll get acclimated in a day.

Just go and have fun, drink a variety fluids that don't contain caffeine or alcohol along with your coffee and booze. Watch out for hyponatremia.

Be aware, but don't knock yourself out worrying about the heat. There's too much other stuff to worry about. :->

sunn · Post by **sunn** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:09 pm

Ride your bike a bit before you go if you've been a couch potato lately...helps prepare you for alot of riding during BM week.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:42 pm

Another good heat-work prepration is just what you bring to wear out there. If you think that you're not ready for hard work in the heat, don't spend the first day naked baking yourselves in the sun. Go to a fabric store or any place you can find a good variety of fabrics and get a couple yards of the cheapest light, gauzy materials that you can find. Don't worry about knowing how to sew - you won't really need to. Get multicolored stuff, have fun with what you buy because you're decorating yourself with it. Wrap a head dress around your head lightly so breeze can blow through and do the same with your body. Leave whatever skin exposed that you're used to leaving exposed and as you feel yourself becoming acclimated (sp?), start removing wraps. You'll be playa comfy in no time.

For drinks, I do soda water. I'm a tree climber here in Reno and I work outside in the sun all day long. It gets HOT. Soda water has sodium in it that helps your body absorb the water faster. Timber Mischief is right about EmergenC, too. That stuff is GREAT. Don't drink anything super cold after working hard in the sun or you'll give yourself cramps...Utilize shade...

Just be sensible, listen to your body, and you'll do great.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:54 pm

If your lips are "chapped" - drink water!

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:31 am

Between 11:00 AND 2:00 (DAYTIME) sit on your ass in the shade sipping whatever you can get your hands on.

A great drink is a shandy: mix lemonade and beer to taste, doesn't get you drunk too fast and replaces electrolytes. But make sure you're well hydrated before hitting the booze.

I want to "gift" FatSAM and phil some tasty cold shandies after reading their sensible advice.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:22 pm

Thanks Slave!

QueenOfTheBeans · Post by **QueenOfTheBeans** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:16 pm

There is some incredible stuff called Cytomax. It's a powder that you can buy at GNC or online (or any other place that sells vitamins, power drinks, etc). You add it to your water, and it's pretty remarkable how well it hydrates you and keeps you hydrated. I swear I'm not trying to pimp the stuff, but it really does work wonders. I've been quite worried about the heat as well, particularly with the heat waves passing through.

-Queen of the Beans
p.s. did a search, found a website with more info on it:

http://www.cytosport.com/products/cytomax.html

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:32 pm

I worked the LiveSTRONG Challenge last weekend. We gave out Powerade, water and Powergel packets to the runners. They went for the water, some for the Powerade, and didn't know what to think about the Powergel packets. We wound up having boxes left over and the race team captains sent home handfuls of the stuff with the volunteers.

It took me a day or two to crack one open and it actually wasn't too bad. Imagine salty chocolate pudding. This was one of our hot days out here and I was off to a riding lesson. That Powergel packet kept me going for about four solid hours. So I've only got a couple left and I'm gonna go hunt down some more to take with me out there. They also come in vanilla and double-latte (that one has caffeine).

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:55 am

Actually, what surprises people who haven't been there before is how COLD it gets at night. Have warm stuff and a good sleeping bag. It can easily get in the high 30's or low 40's at night ... or it might be in the balmy 60s ... never know from one year to the next but being in 40 degrees with a 20mph wind if you aren't prepared for it isn't fun.

Example: Forecast for Gerlach this Tuesday night ..

Mostly clear. Lows 46 to 56. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:54 am

Wear a swweat shirt and pants a large hat w/vented top. Place a wet rag folded on top of your head. Keep the rag wet. Wear a water blatter w/ a bite tube. Ride a three wheeled bike so you can go slow or stop to rest. Attach a golf umbrella to the bike. Take the afternoons off. Put your feet in water when sitting around camp. Take a nap, w/a wet towel spread over you. Before you go, Work in the hot days in the sun on project around the house. Drink water every half hour. Don't eat so much.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:23 am

Hydration strategy: At home, drink a cup of water per hour.

On the Playa: Drink water whenever you see or someone says "Water."

Honey in the water is good unless you have a food sensitivity to it.

[Gulp] Thanks for the cue, man.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:22 pm

"Before you go, Work in the hot days in the sun on project around the house. Drink water every half hour. Don't eat so much."

This is actually VERY good advice. The body does actually make changes to become used to a change in climate. It is a fairly slow process and if you have been spending all your time in comfy air conditioning until you hit the playa, you can find that you are only starting to get used to the weather when it is time to go home!

So turn off that air conditioning, get used to the heat before you go. And ride your bike around a little too.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:33 pm

I'm getting a TriKing Kobra from the Sportsman's Guide. It's a very cool gadget that's essentially a V-split Razor with handlebars and brakes. You work it by shifting your weight between the two arms of the V, like inline skates. I'm planning on using that as a backup in case the bike gets bogged in dust.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:18 pm

diane o'thirst wrote:I'm getting a TriKing Kobra from the Sportsman's Guide. It's a very cool gadget that's essentially a V-split Razor with handlebars and brakes. You work it by shifting your weight between the two arms of the V, like inline skates. I'm planning on using that as a backup in case the bike gets bogged in dust.

That would be a cool different vehicle to see.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:45 pm

The 3G stepper is a stepping bike; photos at
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/3g-stepper/

Available in September, though, according to the blog.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:34 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:That would be a cool different vehicle to see.

Here's the page if you want to have a look.

Not as hefty as the step-bike but it's supposed to support 375 pounds. And the price is pretty easy to swallow, too.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=250509

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:45 pm

Carry water with you everywhere, preferrably in your left hand. You will drink more water this way. If not in your hand, get a water bottle carrier you can throw over your shoulder so it's always there to remind you to drink water.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:01 pm

Carry water with you everywhere, preferrably in your left hand.

I'm guessing that's a water bottle in your left hand in that photo?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:11 pm

Do NOT try to stay hydrated enough to piss clear.

Also, consider buying one of these http://www.rei.com/online/store/Product ... REI_SEARCH

I swear by them. Keep them soaked in cold (or icy) water. Works miracles for insuring you won't get a heat induced headache.

Coastburner · Post by **Coastburner** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:13 pm

I like the idea of the neck wrap. I've never seen one before but I love the idea as I have a few newbies going with me this year and although you try to instill the water, water, water idea, it seems like some people need to get overheated before they get it.

CoastBurner

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:18 pm

Great idea that neck cooler. It would work well under a vented hat or straw hat. Another 10$.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:20 pm

My next-door neighbour at Market makes and sells those. I set up a trade with her, she's going to give me a couple in exchange for a tapestry-hanging pole.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:29 pm

diane o'thirst wrote:My next-door neighbour at Market makes and sells those. I set up a trade with her, she's going to give me a couple in exchange for a tapestry-hanging pole.

/ I'll try to get down to the market Saterday next. It's great place to buy veggies. My friend in Eugene is very ill. Will try to get her out of the house.

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:49 pm

A true pith helmet is a life-saver. Hand made in Viet Nam from the cork or "pith" of the trees there, they are inexpensive and come in many styles. I prefer the french version in white. Anyway, they were designed to be soaked in streams whenever one crossed and act like an evaprative cooler on top of your head. Mine ended up smelling like feet and Doc. Bonners Peppermint Soap due to the places I chose to soak it. Yum!

Enduring the heat - Prep work

Enduring the heat - Prep work

Whoops...

Badger -- great tip!