Hanoi's Weatherdude

Just found out my daughter is reading 'Into the Wild' for G11 English class. Memories of the parallels between that book and my own hitchhiking adventure from southern Alberta to Alaska in 97. All I had - my pup tent, a sleeping bag, some clothing layers, a small MEC stove, a bag of couscous - beans, a little bag of spices, and my personal journal. I met some special people along the way, including an old retired one-armed artist from Texas and a young beatnik Gary-Snyder wilderness dreamer in a gas station in Dawson.

My chief scout status and brave identification as some sort of green pagan warlock gave me the confidence to kiss off society, although not for forever.

I met some big bears 🐻 but they didn't eat me because my Chilean girlfriend who sadly broke up with me in Calgary (she decided to become a born-again Christian the day before I left) had given me a silver pendant shaped like a bear claw and said it would let all animals in the forest know that I was their friend and therefore was not harmful. It seemed to work. Bears sniffed me cautiously and then seemed to move sideways.

I remember my boots melting to the asphalt one day, forcing me to walk parallel to the Alaska highway for a while as there were no rides, except for that lone native dude on a horse.

I'll never forget bathing in the Liard river hot springs, feeling so connected to nature yet so alone in the Boreal forest.

Climbing an insanely steep mountain in Skagway with a wild German mountaineer only to be met at our summit campsite by a group of cheerleaders from Texas who arrived earlier the same day by helicopter. At least they had beer.

Northern BC, Yukon, up to Fairbanks Alaska and then back down the easy way. Hopped on a small ferry through the panhandle and past Juneau. Set up my tent on the deck of the ship and listened to a deep Ecology professor and a singing girl from Phoenix while sipping cheap whiskey and stopping to admire the humpback whales.

I could go on. The weather. How it changed. How I would be burning hot from the sun in the day, yet with icicles in my beard the next morning. It was unpredictable, chaotic, but so very fresh, clean.

My memories are still intact.

https://youtu.be/ucwnfFzlDWw?si=hmIrwfzUG7ARBwrL

Sunday, June 7th.

Caught in the low pressure trough. Heat peaking today at 38-40 in some parts of north and north-central areas.

Very little rain today but will most likely change tomorrow with heavy, possibly violent, thunderstorms in the evening of Monday the 8th. Please be careful tomorrow afternoon and evening. The strongest downdrafts from supercharged thunderstorms often come in early to mid-June (pre-rainy season for north). These can be gale-force winds that can knock you off your bike or blow debris haphazardly. If you see the dark mammatus clouds, it's time to immediately take shelter.

That's all for now. Hope everyone's aircons are working well today. Mine is set at 27. Watching 'Resident Alien', which I am enjoying 😉 😎 😀.

WD

Saturday. Another steamy day.

If you have a rather large frontal lobe (like me 🤣😂), you should always consider directly cooling your brain. Cool brain = better, calmer thinking and healthier body.

I guess it's common sense, but Weatherdude recommends:

1) Cooling your pulse points (damp towel or icepack on back of neck)
2) Mental visualization (I imagine glaciers, giant ice cream mountains and listening to ice crackling sounds on spotify)
3) Hydrating - Drinking cool fluids, especially water and electrolytes. Nuoc Mia, coconut water, ice tea and lemonade are classics
4) Fan pointing directly at face
5) Wear a cooling bandana (useful when outdoors on hikes and bikes)
6) Shave head and neck or pull up into buns (latter is irrelevant to WD)
7) Wear a straw hat or breathable canvas hat
8) Swamp cooler (DIY ice in front of fan)
9) Peppermint oil under ears and back of neck
10) Use the force. Take a lukewarm shower. Not cold, as this causes your body to produce more heat to counter the freezing shock.

Avoid the midday sun and take siestas too.

WD

The Effects of Extreme Heat on the Brain Thanks to the known effects of heat on the brain, our temperature-coping strategies are already at risk.

'Humanity can raise living standards, reduce inequality and keep global heating within a 2C rise, according to a sweeping vision for planetary survival.

The new report by the World Inequality Lab (WIL) aims to be the most comprehensive attempt yet to navigate the polycrisis that is pushing the world toward climate breakdown, political extremism and ever greater economic and social tension.'

‘An equal and habitable world is possible’: academics set out sweeping vision for planetary survival Global report provides an alternative to climate breakdown, political extremism and economic tensions

This is good advice from VNExpress (although the wording of their headline is weird - it's not a myth), and I have been saying this for years. In 38 degree weather, set your air conditioner high, around 26-28 to save electricity and avoid it burning out due to temp differential. Many air cons used to need full repairs every year at my school because teachers set the air temps too low (20 or less) or they left the classroom doors open. Schools and buildings and air con units are getting more efficient these days. I mean, they need to be... as humidity and temps are increasing with overall climate stress. Maintained twice a year is the norm.

Stay cool, folks. 38 this afternoon, more scattered storms on the way tonight and tomorrow. I'll provide a full weekend update tomorrow on Instagram.

WD

The 26°C myth that could be driving up your air-conditioning bill - VnExpress International Setting an air conditioner to 26°C by default during extreme heat might look like the thing to do to save electricity, but it also forces the compressor to work harder, leading to higher energy consumption.