The asphalt jungle swelters and steams in mid-summer. It’s fight or flight time, and the heat’s a formidable foe. A lot of folks simply don’t have the stomach for a fight. But if you’re one of the millions who opt to flee to the backcountry, there are no guarantees you’ll escape. A sandy lakeshore at high noon offers precious little shade. And a portage trail that winds for miles through a spruce hell can be as airless and stifling as any locked car in a big-box parking lot. What’s the remedy? That’s easy. Chill out!

Cold drinks, cold soup, even ice cream – they’re all on the menu. Or at least they can be. It almost makes you wish for a heat wave, doesn’t it? Me, too. Stay cool! Read More…