READERS COMMENTS

1st of all DO YOUR HOMEWORK, by the sounds of this piece it was put together by someone who hasn't been out there but read a book. Doing your homework means researching your hike not only using maps but Satelite photos as well. Most Ranchers only know of water places on their Ranch and they do not want you there or around their Cattle which can become grumpy and protective of "their" water source.. Hike only during the months of November thru April. If there are roads near your hike, make a cache of a few gallons of water along the way as did Colin Fletcher during his Hike, the Thousand Mile Summer. Also carry that Plastic 6x6 piece of ground cloth and make a solar still by creating a well by stacking rocks in a circle if you have nothing to dig with and placing as much chopped or stomped on vegetation you can in the hole. I always carry one of those small metal foldup shovels, not for the digging latrines but one just a bit bigger that folds down and is a miniture Entrenching tool with a pick on one end. A Space Blanket which can be used to make shade placing the shiny side towards the sun. Bee's need water, so if there are Bee's in the area watch them for awhile and observe where they are going, are they going to the Hive or ground nest or to water..If you do find a Tinajas be very observant as to what is around it like Packrat or ground Squirrel droppings which could give you a number of diseases including the Plague. I carry one of those small sippy straw filters just for this reason. Also make sure you have at least 50 feet of nylon cord with you for sometimes the Tinajas is located under a jumble pile of rocks which you can see but can't climb down too. I carry My USMC issued Canteen cup from the 1970's which has the fold down handles which makes it perfect for tying some cord too and lowering it down to the tank to dip out some water.This cup unlike modern "Latte Cups" has a number of uses fromb boiling water, to frying, to digging holes with..But no matter what anyone tells you, planning your trip smartly is what is going to make it a pleaseant experience and or save you. Black and dark colors also absorb heat so becareful of what colors your wear. In thirty years of desert hiking I never once found a petroglaph by a Tinaja, only by a Spring and if you find a Spring, do not camp by it but move away about 200 yards to avoid unwanted night time visitors such as Snakes who need water too. One of my biggest thrills in years of Desert cross country hiking was locating a Spring and camping away from it to be rewarded with watching a herd of Desert Big Horn Sheep come down to drink at sunset. I was so thrilled I forgot to take pictures of them..And if you do find Native America Artifacts,Generally under some house size Boulders where it is nice and cool, take pictures and leave them alone, do not pick them up because some are so fragile they could just turn to dust in your hand, and though some would, I wouldn't tell the Museum about them either they'll just come out and muck it up...or worse, take them and store them in a drawer for nobody to see ever again. Had that happened twice, so I don't tell anymore. My Secret! SO the key to Desert survival is to use your head ahead of time and do the proper planning and remember those Salty food bars and the likes only make you thirsty so remove the sugar and chocolate which help dehydrate being diretics, as well as the beef jerky and salty nuts..I do carry two packs of oral Hydration salts which are about the size of a matchbook which I buy from an on line source but only had to use twice over the years..Oh, the one tool I bring on EVERY Desert Hike is the Victorinox "Work Champ" which has fewer tools than the Big Champ but most importantly it has Tweezers and Pliers..and a non-slip grip with a locking main blade..Those Pliers have pulled out hundreds of Cacti Thorns over the years from my body and my boots. It also has a Saw, Scissors and screw drivers for fixting Stoves and most importantly a Lanyard ring to tie it to my belt loops so I do not lose it while scampering or boulder hopping..And finely bring a good pair of well fitting Leather work Gloves, and not the prissy garden variety but good leather fingertipped work gloves. for the granite will just eat your hands up from climbing on it and you can use them for potholders and pushing aside bushes etc. etc...
Posted: Apr 02, 2012 meanolddog

When in the sands keep your mouth closed and breath through your nose, this will stop you mouth drying up, when in open desert use your turban, sit down bring your knee's up to you chest unrarell your turban (half way) hold the end use a long stick to create a shade, all so a long walking stick is good to fend off wild dogs, and a long turban is good when you arrive at a well, when only a bucket is near, it work's for me in north Africa,
Posted: Apr 02, 2012 Bristol Steve

Worst thing about the desert is no shade, or shade that moves quickly into the adjacent cactus bed and then what do you do? The ground gets awefully hot if not shaded too. A parasol stays with you and you can aim it at the sun without moving around and therefore maintain your shade. Others will laugh at first but by the end they'll be won over. You dont need your tent so take one.
Posted: Mar 31, 2012 oldocg

The same emergency blanket that enhances your bag at night will reflect the Sun 100% during the day and is really bright and can be seen well by the air and far away. You can use this to enhance your daytime hideyhole in conjunction with a tarp/ sheet. It can also be used to makeshift a solar oven that will boil rancid water in minutes making it eventually drinkable. put the solar blanket in a box or in your pack and fill with water. test this out first because the water will boil evaporate faster than you think. poor the hot water in doing extra water bottle and save for later at night when it's freezing cold out.

Posted: Mar 30, 2012 Ronnie

be careful out there people
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 barlow

Hi...


It looks like you let some spam in.
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 Pathfinder1

While digging a trench might help you survive, it'll take you three days to dig it because the ground is so hard.
Posted: Dec 10, 2011 Desert Native

hi mate
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