Summer has arrived in earnest in the Sonoran Desert. Our high temperature yesterday was around 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, today is forecast to be cooler with a high temperature of “only” 108 degrees.

Our desert climate is harsh and unforgiving, but, as someone that has lived in Arizona for my entire life, there are ways to endure this time of year.  

Become a Morning Person

One of the best ways to get the most out of the desert is to get comfortable with early mornings. I usually wake up around 4 am so I’m bicycling by about 4:30am. Early morning rides offer a great way to beat the heat.

By waking up this early, our large, sprawling roads are often almost empty. The sun hasn’t risen yet, and the city is quiet. Despite living in a more densely populated part of town, I’ll even see wildlife sometimes. I’ve seen roadrunners, coyotes and even javelina along my rides in Chandler.

Even if you are outdoors before dawn, bring more water than you need, know your route, and understand the signs of heat exhaustion/heat stroke.

Once the sun is up and the temperature rises, it’s dangerous to be outside. Every year, we hear about people who tragically die from the heat. Many times, the victims are healthy, fit individuals who aren’t far from help.

The City of Phoenix has even started to restrict access to some of our busiest hiking trails when we have Excessive Heat Warnings. This is partly to protect would-be hikers, but also to protect our first responders.

Adapt Your Exercise

For the rest of the country, many people take their workouts indoors during the winter. The concept is no different since their summer is our winter.

One of the easiest adaptations is to go to the gym. This can be an opportunity to cross-train or incorporate strength training into your fitness regimen. Lap swimming can be another great choice.

However, if you’re like me and don’t like going to the gym, you can also invest in an indoor trainer.  I bought a TacX Flux S trainer last year. It allows me to enjoy virtual rides on my road bike using a variety of software options.

The most popular programs are Zwift, Rouvy, or TacX. I personally use TacX because I appreciate how well it integrates with Garmin Connect.

Travel  

My favorite way to experience summer in the Sonoran Desert is by leaving it as often as possible. I do most of my travel during the summer months.

The easiest option is to take a road trip to Arizona’s higher elevation. Places like Payson, Flagstaff, or Pinetop are common escapes for Phoenicians. However, because of Phoenix’s population growth, the highways to these places are getting busier. So, I’m now starting to explore some of Arizona’s lesser-known places in the southern part of the state.

Many of us also often travel to California during the summer. Los Angeles and San Diego are easy drives. For longer trips, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo are also somewhat reasonable options by car.

Personally, I’ve started to take more regular trips to the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I’ll be visiting both Portland and Seattle this summer. Sky Harbor International Airport provides frequent service which makes the trip easy.

Summary

I’ll never be one of those people who thrive during summertime in Phoenix. I’ve lived here for my entire life (nearly four decades), and it still hasn’t happened. However, by adapting your lifestyle to our climate, you can make it easier to endure.