HIKING UTAH DESERTS

HIKING UTAH DESERTS

Utah is the second driest state. Hiking and mountain biking in deserts may be Hazardous if you do not prepare. But red rock country can be a peaceful, beautiful place to explore if you take time to plan.

HYDRATION: It is important to hydrate yourself with water, before entering the desert. Hydrate yourself the day before. And avoid drinking, coffee, tea, caffeinated soft drinks, that may cause dehydration.

HATS: Make sure you wear a hat when you are hiking and a helmet, while mountain biking. It is important to protect yourself from UV, putting on sunblock, wearing sunglasses, and wearing light colored clothing.

HEAT EXHAUSTION: Intense sweating, losing one or two quarts of water per hour, cause dehydration and heat exhaustion. Symptoms are pale face, moist skin, headaches, cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment is to drink water, sports drinks with electrolytes, energy snacks, rest in shade and wetting the body with water.

HEAT STROKE: Life threatening, when your body loses the ability to cool down itself. Symptoms are dry skin, flushed face, rapid pulse, weakness, high temperature, confusion, poor judgment, unconsciousness, and seizures. Treatment is to cool down the victim immediately! Pour water on head and immerse in cold water if possible. Find shade, and remove excess clothing. And if the victim needs to go to the hospital, send somebody for help.

HYPONATREMIA: Water intoxication has similar symptoms of Heat Exhaustion. It is the result of losing a lot of salt by sweating and drinking too much water. Symptoms are nausea, frequent urination, vomiting, and mental confusion. Seizures may occur. Treatment is to have the person eat salty foods, and slowly drink sports drinks.

HYPOTHERMIA: Even during the Summer months, the weather can change at a moments notice. Make sure you have a good jacket for wind and rain. Hypothermia is life threatening when your body cannot warm itself, due to exhaustion and exposure to wet, cold and windy weather. Symptoms are shivering, poor muscle control, grumbling, and mumbling. Treatment is warm up victim with space blanket, remove wet clothing, put on dry clothing, and find shelter from the elements.

CONCLUSION: Make sure you take extra water, energy snacks, and have salty foods when exploring the deserts. And have water and food stashed in your vehicle when you get back to your vehicle. Check the weather forecast before hiking. Even on the same trail, you drink a lot more water when it is 90 degrees, than when its 70 degrees. During hot Summer days, plan to explore during the early morning and evening hours.

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

DID JESUS ATONE FOR OUR SINS 

IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE?

"And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Luke 22:39-46 NASB

Hematidrosis is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of emotional stress.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." 

Romans 5:8-9 NKJV 

ARE WE JUSTIFIED BY BLOOD OR SWEAT?

"...first of all that which I also received: that Christ DIED for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." I Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV 

DID JESUS DIE IN THE GARDEN? 

"and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1:20 NKJV 

"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," Revelation 1:5 NKJV 

"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." I Peter 2:18-19 NKJV

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 

I John 1:6-7 NKJV 

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7 NKJV 

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13 NKJV 

It was by the shed blood on the cross, where he suffered and died; that we have opportunity of forgiveness, if we repent from our sins and believe in Jesus.

"But as many received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"  John 1:12 NKJV 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 NKJV