comeuppance

[ilanarama]

I admit I have been ignoring the plight of my friends on the east coast who have been whining about the heat. Yeah, it's hot out there - and that's (one reason) why I live out here. I remember when I lived in Maryland and Massachusetts; summers sucked, winters sucked, autumn and spring were lovely. But it's sunny in the winter here, even if it does snow quite a bit, and summer temperatures have only once hit triple digits in recorded history.

Except we're planning a river trip to SE Utah, which is, um, a lot hotter. How much hotter? Well, we're putting in on Friday, and I just looked at the NWS forecast.

106°F.

Yeah.

It's supposed to get down to 100°F by Monday. Oh, joy. Accuweather, which I trust less but has an extended forecast, predicts a high of only 105°F on Friday but nothing lower than 102°F through our take-out on Thursday the 22nd. Of course, we can cool off in the water - but currently, with air temperature at 94°F, the water's getting over 80°F each afternoon. How are we supposed to cool off in the river if the water's 80°F? More importantly, how are we supposed to cool our beers? What if the rubber tubes of my raft melt? What if I melt?

Comments

[libitina]

Can you link me to your touring/hiking website? Twice today, I had cause to refer people to it.

[ilanarama]

It's http://windom.netrack.net, but the recent stuff is pretty much all right here (via the tags).

[wildcelticrose.livejournal.com]

but it's a...


wait for it...


"dry heat"

I used to tell people that in Moab. (where I'd start to get cranky at about 102)

Their response.

"Yeah, well my oven is a dry heat too, but you don't see me crawling in there now do you?"

[ilanarama]

Haha, I KNOW! And admittedly I would rather have 102 in Moab than 96 in Maryland. But still. HOT is hot.

[sara]

I think that means you get to leave the raft at home, doesn't it? Just strap on a couple of lifejackets, wrap some duct tape around the cooler a couple times so it stays shut, and tie it to your ankle. NO PROBLEM.

[ilanarama]

Yeah, except it's harder to carry all those beers. The cans might bump into a rock and get holes in them! But I have a feeling I am going to be spending a lot of time in the water...

[sara]

No, you put the cans in the cooler. Then you put the duct tape around the cooler. Problem solved!

Herself had rafting camp week before last. I was totally jealous (she has the best camps this summer: rafting, canoeing, and tree-climbing. I ♥ our municipal summer rec program....)

[blnchflr]

Urgh, it's hot enough here these days - I really don't deal well with heat; 25°C is plenty hot for me!

[ilanarama]

I don't deal well with heat if I have to be active (like, go running, or do physical labor) in it. I don't actually mind the desert heat too much. But it will make me want to do not much other than drape myself over the side of the boat and drink beer.

[blnchflr]

Sweating although I'm sitting still makes me :o(

[justrunjim.blogspot.com]

I'd be more worried about keeping the beer cold. Or you could just hang on to the raft from the water to stay out of the heat. PS watch for falling fuel trucks