| I thought we were ready for desert hiking when | | | | A quote from the U.S. Army Survival Guide: "The |
| my wife and I moved to Arizona from Michigan. | | | | body requires a certain amount of water for a |
| We liked the climate, and were amazed how our | | | | certain level of activity at a certain temperature. |
| skin was dry and comfortable when it was 105 | | | | For example, a person performing hard work in |
| degrees (41 Celsius) outside. However, we noticed | | | | the sun at 43 degrees C requires 19 liters of |
| that people carried water bottles just to take the | | | | water daily. Lack of the required amount of |
| bus to work or to go shopping. We also noticed | | | | water causes a rapid decline in an individual's ability |
| that soon we were drinking much more water | | | | to make decisions and to perform tasks |
| than ever before. We needed to - especially if we | | | | efficiently." |
| were going hiking. | | | | In other words, if you have a limited water |
| A desert isn't defined by heat. It is dryness that | | | | supply, you should limit your activities during the |
| defines a desert. Heat is certainly an issue when | | | | hottest time of the day. Get started hiking early, |
| you are hiking in the desert, but getting enough | | | | perhaps just before sunrise. That way you can |
| fluids is the larger problem. | | | | get in some miles before the heat comes. Hiking |
| Your first time hiking in the desert, you'll be | | | | in the evening may work as well. If there is a full |
| surprised at how much water you need. You | | | | moon, you might even try hiking from four in the |
| won't really feel like you are sweating that much, | | | | morning until the heat starts. |
| because in the dry desert air your perspiration | | | | Unlimited water? You still need to be careful. Your |
| can evaporate as fast as it comes out of your | | | | body cools itself by sweating, and it can only |
| pores. This makes it very comfortable compared | | | | process so much water per hour. When it is hot |
| to the "sticky" heat of more humid areas, but it | | | | enough and you are active, you can reach a point |
| also hides your body's water loss. | | | | where you are perspiring faster than you can |
| It is easy to become dehydrated very quickly | | | | process the incoming fluids. In other words, a belly |
| without realizing it is happening. Rule number one | | | | full of water won't help if it is being absorbed |
| for desert hiking, then, is to carry much more | | | | slower than it is used. Stop sweating during hot |
| water than you think you'll need. Drink your fill | | | | weather and high activity, and you'll quickly |
| before starting as well. You may even want to | | | | develop heat stroke, which requires immediate |
| wet your shirt before starting out, so the | | | | medical attention. |
| evaporation will cool you and reduce your | | | | By the way, in that last case, if your water is |
| sweating (and so reduce your water | | | | truly unlimited (as when you are hiking along a |
| requirements). | | | | desert river), you can wet your clothes to cool |
| On longer hikes, and especially on multi-day | | | | off, so you won't need to sweat as much. Watch |
| backpacking trips, be sure you know where you'll | | | | for any little tricks like this that make your time in |
| be refilling your water bottles. Have enough water | | | | the desert not only more comfortable, but safer. |
| carrying capacity for the longest dry stretch you'll | | | | There are beautiful deserts to go hiking in, and no |
| be traversing. When in doubt, carry too much. | | | | reason to avoid them entirely. Just pick cooler |
| Desert Hiking Routines | | | | times, and follow some of these basic guidelines. |