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A few years ago, the writer Jeff Goodell climbed the Madeeras volcano in Nicaragua. This was in May,

and it was hot, but nothing crazy. Goodell was in good shape. And in his book, he said,

the idea that he could get heat stroke seemed about as likely to him as being abducted by aliens.

The day we set out, it was hot, but not the kind of day where you would think I'm going

to just sit inside by the air conditioning.

I don't know what the temperature was.

Maybe it was in the high 80s or something like that, but it was very humid.

We headed out in the morning.

I think it was about a five or six hour hike up the side of

this volcano. And, you know, I was in my 40s. I was in excellent shape. It was just very carefree

adventure. And we started climbing. And after, I don't know, an hour or so of climbing, I noticed that my heart started pounding

faster than it should be for a hike like that.

But I didn't think about it.

And I was sweating, but, you know, it was humid.

So, of course, I was sweating.

But then I kept going and I kept going, and I kept going.

And then my heart just started kind of exploding in my chest.

And I got lightheaded.

And sweat started pouring off my body in a way that was really surreal.

It was as if my sweat pores had sort of just all opened up,

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