Desert Basics

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Desert Basics

Water. From beginning to end, from one moment to the next, water is the most important factor in a hike through arid country. With enough water, a desert traverse may well be one of the high points of your hiking career. But run out, and the opposite will certainly be true.

Experienced desert hikers walk with the thought of water sloshing around their brains. They know, exactly and accurately, how full their canteens are. How much they need to walk a mile. How much they'll want to drink at the top of a big climb. How many water sources are on their map, and which of those are likely o be reliable. And they have a plan for what they'll do when the "reliable" spring is dry.
Rangers often suggest that if you intend to hike in a desert you carry all of your water with you. This avoids the disastrous situation of an unsuspecting hiker depending on an uncertain water source. The problem is that carrying all of your water is a heavy proposition - sometimes an impossible one - because water weighs about 2 pounds to the quart. At 8 quarts a day (personal requirements vary, but figure on at least 6-8 quarts per day for cooking and drinking), that's 16 pounds in your pack. That's heavy!
Planning a desert hike is really planning a series of hops between safe harbors - your reliable water sources. Your job is to identify likely water sources, collect as much information as you can, and have a backup plan. Or - another option - you can cache your water before your hike.