If you hike you already have the equipment you'll need. If you have equipment to choose from go with summer-hiking gear. Summer boots dry faster if you have to wade; otherwise it doesn't matter.

Your cap should be all-cotton so you can dip it in a stream and get extra cooling that way. Baseball caps are best. The funny hats they sell in hiking stores look dorky. If you need better sun protection and don't care how you look drape a bandana over your head and hold it in place with the baseball cap.

A bandana can also be dipped in a stream and tied around your neck for extra cooling.

Short pants aren't the issue they were 50 years ago. In the Copper Canyon area all the people have grown up seeing foreign tourists wearing short pants. In other places that aren't in parks or reserves women might feel less conspicuous in long slacks or jeans.

In hot rainy places umbrellas are a good choice for rain protection.

Bottled water is available in all towns big enough to have stores. If you're not used to hot-weather hiking take more than you think you'll need.

A GPS receiver is not required for these hikes. A compass on the other hand definitely is.