When driving though the desert the road seems endless. There is
nothing around for miles and miles. Nothing but desert plants, dry
sand and heat. If your car should break down, and you find yourself
stuck in the desert, there are methods of surviving, until someone
stops to help or you are able to reach the next town.
Steps
- Stay as hydrated as possible before going out. That means
water, not beer, not soft drinks. The same goes for what
you take with you. Water may not be the most enjoyable drink out
there, but every gram of carbohydrates and salts must be
compensated for with more water.
- Take along food that packs the most nutrition in the least size
and weight. For some, that might be granola bars, while others will
swear by pemmican or jerky. Do your research, experiment
beforehand, and be prepared. When wheeled vehicles break down, it's
just your two legs and the path to the next town, and you don't
want to be carrying anything nonessential.
- Wear wicking fabrics with a UPF of at least 30 as a base layer,
and take along one warming layer (wool or fleece) and one windbreak
layer. Light colors are recommended both for reflecting (rather
than absorbing) light and its associated heat, and in order to be
seen at night. While the chances are slim that anyone will stop to
help you, at minimum you want to be seen so that you aren't run
over. Long sleeves and pant legs, and a broad-brimmed hat, can
reduce or eliminate the need for sunblock.
- Many deserts are prone to dust storms: take goggles (not
mask-type, but rather those that cover each eye individually) and a
dust mask, gas mask, bandana, or anything to keep the dust out of
your lungs.
- Travel at night when possible; the cooler air enables you to
travel farther and faster with minimum danger of heat exhaustion. A
headlight and taillight on your head or clothing will minimize
danger from traffic.
- Try to stay as warm as possible at night. Bring along a good
goose-down sleeping bag; it can become quite cold in the desert at
night. And be wary of nocturnal animals that can harm you: coyotes
individually may not present a problem, but in a pack they can be
quite dangerous. And in some areas, wolves have been re-introduced;
even one hungry wolf can be a formidable enemy. Brown recluse
spiders and scorpions can also present a danger far exceeding their
size. Bring along a snakebite kit, which can also be used for
arachnid and insect bites.
Tips
- Expose yourself to high temperatures before heading to the
desert so you become more used to the heat: stop using air
conditioning, and train your body to appreciate a natural breeze on
a hot day.
- Bring lots of water: a half gallon a day is a bare minimum, and
it's quite possible to dehydrate even with that much. If you sleep
during the day, and walk all night, you might make 20 miles per
night, assuming you know where you're going; so if it's 60 miles to
the next town, you'd better have 1.5 gallons of water minimum. If
you're on a road -- which is ordinarily the case unless you've
deliberately set out on foot -- take a rolling suitcase or luggage
rack with which you can carry your essential food and water. Your
spine will appreciate it.
- As a last resort, cacti when crushed can provide enough water
to quench your thirst for a while; but the juice, having
carbohydrates and/or salts in it, has a net dehydrating effect over
time.
Warnings
- Remember, if you are lost in the desert and you took a vehicle,
try to use it as a shelter. Don't leave your vehicle, and use
anything within your possession to aid your survival, until you are
running low on water; at which point you must m
