Devil's Lake State Park has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with 3-5 inches of…
With the heat index forecast to hit at least 101 degrees today, it seems like a good time to talk about dealing with the heat while out hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park.
General Tips For Hot Days!
- Hydrate! – Have water, plain, and some with electrolyte replacement. Drink when you’re thirsty but don’t force it. A hiker will sweat 1/2 to a quart of water and electrolytes for every hour of hiking in heat. So take enough water for your hike! (Plan for 3-4 hours on East & West Bluff Trails.)
- Wear light, loose, wicking clothes, and avoid cotton – Don’t wear jeans or other cotton on a hot day.
- Wear a hat – Cover your head. Again, don’t wear a heavy cotton hat that will hold the heat.
- Wear sunscreen – It’s easy to get sunburns on these hot, hazy summer days!
- Wait for the shade – Hike early or late. If possible this time of year, avoid hiking after 11 am or before 4 pm.
- Choose your trails wisely – Trails with lots of stairways and climbs can be downright dangerous in the heat. Balanced Rock, CCC & Potholes trails are wide open to the sun all day! Don’t hike these trails during peak temperatures!
- Choose shorter hikes – Forested trails are better on hot days, but wooded trails with elevation can be suffocating on hot and humid days as well. So choose shorter, flat hikes. Hike Steinke Basin, rather than the Uplands Trail, or choose Tumbled Rocks rather than going up the West Bluff trail.
- Leave your pets at home – In the end, these sorts of days cause a lot of suffering for pets. Dogs have indeed died on the bluffs. It’s best to keep them home out of this heat.
- Know what heat exhaustion and heat stroke look like! – See below!
Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke
Know what heat exhaustion looks like and what to do! Here’s info from the Mayo Clinic:
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may develop suddenly or over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. Possible heat exhaustion signs and symptoms include:
- Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat
- Heavy sweating
- Faintness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Low blood pressure upon standing
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Headache
When to see a doctor
If you think you’re experiencing heat exhaustion:
- Stop all activity and rest
- Move to a cooler place
- Drink cool water or sports drinks
Contact your doctor if your signs or symptoms worsen or if they don’t improve within one hour. If you are with someone showing signs of heat exhaustion, seek immediate medical attention if he or she becomes confused or agitated, loses consciousness, or is unable to drink.
Remember at Devil’s Lake State Park, if you need help call 911.
Let’s stay safe out there!
For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.
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