Tony taking a break on the steep stair section

The trail from the valley floor to the treeline consists of a series of incredibly steep steps that zig-zag in switchbacks. Beyond the treeline, the trail traverses a scree-field and a stroll on sturdy rock.The trail itself gains roughly 3,000 ft in 3.23 miles.

The steepness of the route and the stairs themselves were more challenging than I anticipated.

Past the steep scree field, into the big solid rocky section connecting pole to pole.

As we gained elevation and headed into late afternoon, the weather started to roll in. Once we actually reached the hut, the wind had significantly picked up and the clouds were dense with incredibly low visibility. After sunset, the rain began.

Summer is *almost* here and it's already getting crazy hot and humid. For some reason, I tend to gravitate toward VERY hot places, and happen to go there during the hottest time of year. The most extreme example was heading to the Sahara in August!

I learned a lot from the cultures who have thrived for thousands of years in those insanely hot places, and now I'm sharing what I've learned.

First Some Science!

A crucial part of staying cool is understanding how heat
is transferred and how our bodies self-regulate. I want you to imagine that you are a little campfire. Why? Your body creates heat. What we have to do in summer and winter is figure out how to either hold onto that heat (in winter) or get rid of it (in summer). Imagine you're in a cabin with a nice little fire in a small fireplace. It's snowing outside. Do you want the cabin to be small or big? A little fire can warm a little cabin, but not a big one, so in winter we need a small cabin. Now let's imagine it's a hot summer day, and we've got that fire going. Now, we want our cabin to be big, and maybe we'll open a few windows and turn the fans on to try to let that heat out. Remember, putting out the fire means we are no longer alive, so all we can do is adjust the size of the room. This blog post is how to accomplish that.

Heat moves in 4 ways:

• Conduction: The process by which heat or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance when there is a difference of temperature between adjoining regions, without movement of the material.
  AKA: touch cold things, don't touch hot things

• Convection: the transfer of heat by the circulation or movement of the heated parts of a liquid or gas
  AKA use wind and water to take heat away from your body.
• Radiation: the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and absorbed by another body.
  AKA: heat from the sun, body heat. Stand close to cool objects, stand far away from hot objects or put a barrier between you and the hot object. 
• Evaporation: water molecules heat up until they have enough energy to transform from liquid into gas- effectively 'transferring' that heat into the surrounding atmosphere

How do we use the science of heat to help us stay cool?

The Kalliste by Werner Paddles is an elite performance, sleek and sexy carbon fiber paddle for low angle paddlers. This beauty will set you back about $400. Is it worth the money? Keep reading to find out why it's totally worth it.

Specs:

• Shaft: carbon fiber available straight or bent
• Blades: carbon fiber with foam core
• Ferrule style: 180 degree feathering adjustment right and left
• Weight: 23.25oz to 26 oz depending on length and shaft size/type

Features:

• Foam core blades: buoyant carbon fiber blades make each stroke smoother and lifting the blade out of the water at the end of the stroke effortless
• Dihedral power face: the three dimensional face of the blade eliminates the 'flutter' of the blade through the water which is present in paddles with smooth power faces. This makes your strokes more efficient and reduces wrist and arm strain. 
• Smooth back face: a smooth back face makes for a smooth entry into and out of the water, unlike a fiberglass paddle which has a spine on the back face of the blade.
• Smart view adjustable ferrule: gives the look and feel of a single piece shaft with a tremendous range of feathering which allows you to adjust the feather to both your paddling style and wind. There is nothing to get caught on your clothes or gear, and you can alter the feathering quickly and easily on the water. I love the way it looks and feels like a single piece paddle.

Equip Your Mind: Knowledge is Paramount

Learning about spine stabilization during my Wilderness First Responder course in UAE

The best kit is useless if you don't know how to use its contents. 

Wilderness Medical Associates

Wilderness Medical Institute

Pre-stocked Kits

I never buy pre-stocked kits because they are so pricey. I can stock a kit with what I want and need for much less money. A pre-stocked kit is a great starting point. It will equip you with the basics and is typically stocked based on trip size and duration which is incredibly helpful. If you choose this route, grab a pre-stocked kit that fits your trip size and duration, then customize it for your specific trip. For pre-stocked kits, I recommend the Adventure Medical Kit brand.  They come in absolutely the best bags. The bag unfolds to create a work space and they are very durable. Stay away from Wal-Mart and Target kits because they are made for use in the front country where quality care is close by. 

• Group Size- More people = more problems. You will need more of everything. If someone has a high fever, you'll go through Tylenol (acetaminophen) very quickly.
• Trip Duration- longer trips mean more potential for sickness and injury
• Trip Location- Will you have access to quality health care where you are heading? How far removed from that medical care will you be? Are there lots of pharmacies where you can restock? It is a smart idea to bring broad spectrum antibiotics to third world countries where they may be hard to find or fake. Some people even bring their own IV kits to places where contaminated needles are prevalent.
• Planned activities- Going snorkeling? Bring tweezers and vinegar for sea urchins and jellyfish. Hikers need more moleskin and splinting supplies. Everyone heading to third world countries should bring extra re-hydration salts for food poisoning. High altitude trekkers should have detailed knowledge of altitude illness and stock their kit with Diamox
• Pre-existing conditions- Prone to motion sickness? Bring extra Dramamine. Pre-existing conditions often worsen during times of stress. Ensure all travelers have extras of their prescription medications. Plan ahead for dealing with flare ups of issues like heart conditions, joint injuries, and diabetes.