Desert Hiking

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Desert Hiking

When most of us think "desert," we think "heat." It is important to plan your hikes around keeping cool. In the cooler months, some deserts offer extremely comfortable temperatures and little threat of rain. In addition to taking care of yourself, take care of the fragile ecosystems upon which you tread by avoiding cryptobiotic crust.

Basic desert hiking strategy.

If you do decide to hike in hot desert weather, look to the plants and animals to learn survival strategies in an inhospitable environment. One thing you'll immediately notice: Nothing is moving midday when the sun shines its fiercest. Most desert animals are nocturnal, or at least crepuscular (out and about at dawn and dusk).
While hiking at night isn't such a great idea (you might encounter rattlesnakes making their evening rounds), hiking in the cooler hours of dawn and duck makes a lot of sense.
In between, you'll want to find or make a patch of shade and do what the animals do; hole up for a midday siesta.
Avoid walking on cryptobiotic crusts, the fragile, thin layer of desert soil that look like irregularly raised pedistals, by hiking on established trails. Cryptobiotic crusts are made up of lichens and plants that, once damaged, take a long time to heal. They prevent erosion, enrich the soil and allow new plants to take root.

A few things you can do to keep your cool.

Give yourself mini-cool-downs by taking a quick bandanna bath (or at least a wipe-down) when you pass a water source. Just cooling your face, your neck, and your upper chest will do wonders.
When you're done washing, stick your wet bandanna under your hat and let the water dribble on your head as you walk.