How do you camp in this heat?

[Beast 71]

Right now its 97 w/no breeze at all,,and heat index at 102, humidity 40% but dew point is 67,...

The reason the humidity is only 40%, is because 102F air can hold TONS of water.

I seem to be better able to stand the heat when I smoke the funny stuff (I can also tolerate Mt. Dew, Butterfingers and Doritos too...as a matter of fact they are even desired then ). It might be because of ageing that I can't take the heat and sun as well as I used too or, it maybe the fact I'm practically a tea toddler these days. People do smoke a lot of that stuff in warmer places Africa, the Caribbean, California...(or it could be because it just grows there).

I do avoid camping in July and August though, because around here the flies come with the heat. Especially those little black biting b@$+@rd$!

[Cannibal]

Go above 5000'

Ding, ding, ding!

Hard to find a hot night out here, even in the dead of summer. However, while living in Florida and while hiking the AT I had to learn to deal with the heat. Easily, my favorite solution was to find a small stream and start looking for trees on opposite banks. Usually, after a few minutes, I could find a pair of trees across the water from each other that would work for a hang. Then I'd just hang the hammock across the water. The moving water kept things nice and cool all night long. Helps to have small pack towel to dry your feet when you get in, but otherwise it was heaven when it felt like hell.

[rngn]

Thats easy camp near a swimming hole

[CatSplat]

Go above 5000'

I was going to say something similar. I hiked last weekend and the end of the trail was knee-deep snow with a half-frozen lake!

[crashvandicoot]

If you are lucky enough to have plenty of trees invert the pitch of your tarp (ridge lower than sides) it will act as a wind scoop. Make sure one side of line is lower than the other to shed water. Works well in N.C. 100 and 100 humidity.

Awesome awesome tip!

Aside from that, I just try to sac up and plan hikes only in places where, if things got really hairy, I can make it to water. That usually means 5ish miles. If you're willing to bear a fair amount of discomfort, the heat isn't too bad.

[sargevining]

Go above 5000'

Have you seen a Topo map of everything 100 miles from Houston?

[olddog]

Dang folks, I just stay in the AC. Spent 5 of the last 7 years in Maine during the summer and that is pure heaven for a Florida Cracker. Grew up and worked in this H&H most of my life and just can't take it anymore. Have every intention of being back in Maine next summer and plan on hosting a hang for my northeastern brothers and sisters.

[oldgringo]

This comes with age, I guess, but I no longer take Octobers for granted. If there's a way to camp, I'll find it. That might mean riding the Polaris out to a breezy hilltop @ 9pm, eating pizza and beer, looking at the Perseids, and decamping by 10 the next day, but it is, by gawd, camping, and I'll be there.

[Brute1100]

Have you seen a Topo map of everything 100 miles from Houston?

Hahahaha... Or even.the state of Texas with the 5000' Mark...

[kayak karl]

maple and i were talking about this on the way home. even camping near water and kayaking/swimming all yesterday it was too hot at nite. were going to wait till sept.