The Best Ways to Cool Off in the Outdoors
Jul 16, 2024
By Sylvia Karcz, Contributing Blogger
No matter where in our sprawling, magnificent nation you call home, chances are summertime brings longer days, warmer temps, and a certain unshakeable drive to spend as much time connecting with nature as possible. If you're living in a place that flirts with near triple-digits regularly, however, you're likely well aware that heat spells are no joke. Outdoor adventures become a bit more uncomfortable (or flat-out precarious!) when heat-induced illness becomes a viable risk, and finding ways to cool off on those steamy days begins to rank pretty high when you tend to get outside.
If you want to beat the heat, read on, fellow adventurers. There's no need to sacrifice your relationship with the outdoors during peak summer months - you just need to think about the options a bit differently.
Head for Higher Elevations
Wasn't it a famous outdoorsman who once wrote something to the effect of the mountains are calling and i must…cool down?! Towering peaks and alpine environments are filled with infinite adventure potential, sure, but one of the greatest perks during the summer season is that higher elevations bring lower temperatures.
Let's get scientific for a moment. The air around us is constantly in motion, and very often, being re-reradiated back up towards the atmosphere. As it rises, the atmospheric pressure drops,. causing that air to expand, and in the process, cool. That's why if it's about to hit that 100-degree mark at 1,200 feet elevation, if you head up towards, say, 6,000 feet, it'll feel like you're getting a breath of crisper air
And, no matter if you're looking for a thigh-burning hike, a mellow drive up to a glacial lake, or an overnight car camping trip under the stars, you'll be able to fit a high-elevation adventure to suit your heart's content. For those in flatter coastal states or in prairie-land-I'm looking at you, Florida and Illinois higher elevations admittingly will be harder to come by unless you take a longer road trip, but fear not...there is relief in other options!
Water Sources
This one may seem pretty obvious, but finding outdoor adventures that are on or in the water can do wonders for body and soul when the mercury's rising. From our oceans and wild flowing rivers to lakes made by both nature and man, ways to move in water are as grand as your will to reach them.
Canoes and kayaks? Classic fun, and can be a great cardio workout or as slow-paced mellow as you choose! Surfboards and paddle boards? Awesome choices if you want a full-body workout and the feeling of being immersed in the water. Looking for something a bit more involved? Try renting a small sunfish sailboat or heading on a rafting trip with some friends (or by yourself, and make new friends!) And if low-key, low-movement simplicity is mare your style, you can simply lounge by a creek or a lakeside manmade beach; no judgment here. You're outside and beating the heat odds, and that's all that matters!
Granted, natural water sources - just like higher mountains aren't always easily accessible to everyone. But that leaves us with the no-frills but equally satisfying option of.. outdoor pools!
Whether it's a community gym or a day pass at a hotel, research the nearest pools in your area and see what options exist. It may not be the outdoor experience of your dreams, but it's an option nonetheless that can get you moving in that H20 fairly quickly. I've seen people do triathlon training at hotel pools during the quieter early morning hours, so trust me: it doesn't have to be low-energy if you have your heart set on a certain movement goal.
Make a DIY Cold Bath
For those of us contending with limited time or resources to head to places with cool-off potential, I get it, things don't always line up to make a location-specific outing happen. But: instead of feeling down because of life things, why not celebrate your resilience by bringing the cold to you one day?
With a little willpower and ingenuity, you can create a memorable experience in the outdoors right in your backyard. My desert-dwelling friend once made a polar-esque plunge (however temporary) with a few bags of ice in a used kiddie pool in the back of her truck. And then: she drove it to a scenic spot not far from her house. Outdoor sunshine with a view? Check. A refreshing soak? Check. Movement? Well, if you want to do a workout beforehand, by all means, earn that water! The ball is in your court, after all. I've even seen people create a cold bath in a big storage tub on their apartment patios!
The point is: sometimes, you have to create your own solutions. Part of the outdoor experience is problem-solving, after all, no? Believe in the possibilities!
