Hiking in the desert can offer an experience that isn’t like your regular trips in the forest.
The biggest difference is that the temperature in these places can get really hot during the day, especially around noon time.
It’s no wonder that inexperienced and novice hunters are discouraged from going out hiking in deserts. Going in unprepared for the harsh climate can lead to immense suffering while traversing, and on especially bad scenarios, cause death.
For those with an adventurous heart, however, deserts are an opportunity to see more sights that they would not normally see, which is in contrast to the more controlled and relaxing atmosphere of a forest that people commonly travel in.
Contrary to popular belief and media depiction, deserts are not all barren wastelands with nothing but sand and the occasionally cactus. The reality is that deserts have a lot of rock formations, shrubs, bushes, and not as many cacti as cowboy movies would like you to believe. (In fact, cacti are only native to the United States of America, and only pop out elsewhere due to cultivation or if introduced by humans on purpose.)
So, how then can you ensure that your desert travels remain steady and safe, despite the rising heat? This article will give you important tips that you should remember.
Bring lots of water
This should be a very obvious tip – Yet it is worth mentioning anyways to drive the point home.
Always come prepared with water. Even more than you would expect to bring during a forest hiking trip. Two liters of water should be a minimum, even if a trail is expected to be a short one, and even more should be brought if you expect to be hiking for more than two hours.
Dehydration is no joke and can easily hit you as early as three hours under hot desert temperatures, assuming your body doesn’t get sunburned yet.
Before you start your trip, make sure you top up with water – In terms of both your body and your water jugs.
Don’t touch cacti
Were you hoping to find a cactus in the desert on the chance that you run out of water?
Because if so, then forget it. Not only are those movies wrong about how common cacti are, they are also wrong about these prickly plants being great sources of water for the dehydrated.
What will actually happen should you dip your mouth with the liquid in the cactus is that you will end up with a nasty stomachache and lots of vomiting. As it turns out, most cacti species protect their spongy flesh with potent alkaloids and acids. Not a good drink at all, and I think your stomach and kidneys would both agree.
So, don’t count on those plants to save you should you run out of water – you will have to look elsewhere… Or just pack a lot of water in the first place so that this never becomes a problem.
Find shaded areas as much as possible
Desert heat doesn’t only cause you to dehydrate faster, it also makes your body overheating very much possible, which is very dangerous if left unchecked!
To ensure that your body doesn’t wear itself out from exposure to the sun and the hot environment, it is best to take frequent breaks in shaded areas whenever possible. These places are few and far in between in the desert, thanks to its more hostile environment, but they still exist, and can give you breathing room to help catch your breath and cool your body down before you go out on the trail again.
Avoid long hikes during the hottest time of the day
Desert temperature can soar even during idle times, but they get especially worse during the midday, thanks to the sun shining at full blast.
This also means that cover and shaded areas will be even fewer than they already are, especially if the sun is practically overhead.
That means it is best to avoid hiking long trails during midday, which is around 10am-4pm. Short trails can be okay if you bring a lot of water, and cover from the blazing heat, but not recommended overall.
Be cautious of wildlife
Even on the trails of the desert, animals fight to survive. Many of them are more attuned and adapted to survive in the desert and will give you a hard time if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings, and the last thing you need is an angry animal thinking of you as a threat while you are sweating away on the trail.
Rattlesnakes and scorpions, for instance, are really good at hiding themselves, despite the lack of cover for most areas in the desert.
Before setting off, be sure to inform yourself of the wildlife of the place you are hiking at. That way, you can take preventive measures and put yourself out of risk.
Inform yourself of the weather patterns
Sure, deserts may only get 10 inches of water per year, but rainstorms are not the only extreme weather scenarios that can occur. Heat waves are not an uncommon thing for instance and should be deftly avoided if one is approaching.
And while rain is not a guarantee, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t a concern, especially if thunderstorms are strong.
Check the weather patterns before going out, you don’t want to be caught off-guard when the weather suddenly shifts.
Wrapping Up
A desert excursion can be filled with wonder as you explore areas and ground that you have not seen before, but deserts are not the most adventure-friendly areas.
That is why you must always be prepared for any possible contingency to ensure that your desert hikes will end with great memories.