Well, here we go again. Every year during the spring, we take a look at our calendars and fear the summer that is fast approaching. Summer in central and southern Arizona is different than summer anywhere else. In fact, I’m starting to get horny just thinking about it. There are all kinds of experts with wise advice on how to successfully survive the summer when the midday temperatures approach several hundred degrees. I am not one of these experts, but I have some “cool” ideas that I would like to share with you.
The first thing to do is stop using the Fahrenheit temperature scale. It’s too depressing for me. I prefer the Celsius scale because it sounds so much better. For example, which sounds better to you at 115 degrees or 46 degrees? I’ll take 46 every day!
Another of my techniques for staying calm is getting out of town. You will have to travel at least 60 miles north of Phoenix to get some relief. I recommend traveling 600 miles north. This would roughly place you in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you can’t get out of town, find a photo of Jackson Hole and look at it until you figure out how to get there.
Third, I would suggest that every time you hear someone say, “It sure is hot today, but thank goodness it’s a dry heat”, take their hand and place it on your sweaty neck and ask “Does it really feel dry to you? ? ” You may not feel much cooler if you do this, but we can eventually prevent people from saying “but it’s a dry heat.” And that would be “Great!”
On a more serious note, there are several things you can do to stay cool. There are 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, sunscreen, and lip balm. Limit your time in direct sunlight. Grab an ice cream cone. Walk, birdwatch, swim, fish, hike, or bike at dawn or dusk rather than during the hottest parts of the day. This is all common sense, right?
The summer heat shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your life outdoors. But be smart and take care of yourself and your peers. Summer offers many outdoor adventures and you will notice that our parks and trails are not as crowded in hot weather. Now that’s the cool part. Get outside!