NEW YORK, July 19, 2000 - Summer's in full swing and the season's sizzle has officially hit the United States, especially the South, which has experienced oppressive 100-degree weather for the past week. And with forecasters predicting more of the same, residents need to be careful and take precautions against the physical dangers of being outside.

Does this mean you should cancel your outdoor plans? GORP.com, the leading Internet site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel, has developed the following tips to help everyone overcome the tyranny of the summer's triple-digit temperatures:

	First, be sensible. In general, you don't have to abandon your plans. Consider your overall fitness level before venturing out in this kind of weather. It can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition.
	Assuming you do go, pick the place carefully. Opt for shade and pick a trail that crosses lots of streams - or better yet, a trail that runs along a stream.
	Take plenty of water. Electrolyte replacement drinks help replenish salts and potassium, which are lost when you sweat. Drink them in diluted quantities of about half strength - they'll do the job and last longer.
	Immerse yourself. Take opportunities to cool down by jumping into whatever body of water is handy. Periodically dampen a bandanna and wipe your face, neck, and arms.
	Go easy on the mileage and don't plan huge elevation gains.
	Bring some sort of treatment for blisters. Heat causes feet to swell, and sweat, both of which contribute to blistering.
	Wear clothing that wicks sweat from your skin - a polyester T-shirt, not cotton. Be sure that if you're prone to chafing, you wear shorts that are long enough to prevent it.

And if the 100-degree temperatures are just too much, sit back, relax and plan your next outdoor adventure with www.gorp.com to a cooler place, perhaps.

GORP (a.k.a. Great Outdoor Recreation Pages) is the largest and most trafficked Web site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With more than 100,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative, award-winning content; a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts; and a full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 13 million page views per month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service adventure travel booking feature with more than 4,000 trips, accessible via the Web or telephone, in addition to a gear store with 180 brands of clothing, footwear and equipment. GORP has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a"Best of the Web" site.

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Mezey
212-675-6555 x134
Jenn@gorp.com
www.gorp.com

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