For as long as humans have roamed the planet, the deserts of the world have been viewed as mostly inhospitable and downright dangerous. Extreme heat and remoteness make desert exploration difficult, but that doesn’t have to be the case for modern day adventurers. Despite the high temperatures and unforgiving terrain, there are ways to explore, hike, and connect with nature in deserts all around the world.
Before any desert adventure, you must be prepared for extreme heat and limited shade, have an understanding of the seriousness of the trip, and have detailed knowledge of the region you are hiking. In most deserts around the world, temperatures can easily climb well over 100 degrees. The hottest recorded temperature occurred in the Sahara Desert in 1922, when on the 13th of September, the official temperature was a sizzling 136 degrees Fahrenheit. From staying cool and keeping yourself hydrated to knowing when to hike and where to go, we put together some tips so that you can actually enjoy the dynamic landscapes of the desert.
When to Go
Like any hiking adventure, picking the right time of year can make all the difference in the world. Unlike most everywhere else you would hike, hiking in the summer months should be avoided as much as possible, especially during the day. Temperatures and exposure to the elements in the summer can kill hikers within hours, making the fall, spring, and winter months a perfect time to explore without dealing with the scorching sun.
Even during these shoulder seasons, try to avoid hiking during the middle of the day. In the desert, most of the animals are nocturnal, roaming around the sand and seemingly desolate landscape during the cooler hours. Take a cue from them, and start your adventure before or right at sunrise and hike until around noonish before taking a break until late afternoon. Night hiking is also great in the desert, as the night sky erupts in a starry wonderland above you, thanks to the lack of light pollution in these remote regions. During a full moon, you might not even need a headlamp.
How to Stay Cool
Allie_Caulfield
When you’re hiking in the desert, there are a few clothing choices that can help you stay cool and comfortable when the mercury starts to rise.
For starters, a wide-brimmed hat is going to be a necessity, as it will keep your head and face cool and out of the sun’s direct rays. Desert hiking experts also recommend bringing a reflective hiking umbrella to create more shade. Sunglasses are also needed, for the glare from the sun can be similar to the experience of snow-blindness. The darker the tinted glasses you can wear, the better.
For your body, there are two schools of thought: either cover up or strip down. Covering up means a long-sleeved button up shirt made from lightweight, breathable material and long pants that can be converted to shorts. The key to being covered up is to still be able to cool off through the breathable fabrics. The strip down method is to wear something small on top and running shorts underneath. This is a good option for those who do not burn easily and are used to being exposed to direct sunlight.
In both styles of dress, your feet will need lightweight breathable shoes and socks, with an extra pair of socks to change into later. Blisters often occur while hiking in the desert, due to the mixture of sweat and sand rubbing you raw. Stop occasionally and wipe your feet clean, shake out your socks and empty out your shoes. Keep in mind that temperatures at night can plummet below freezing during non-summer months, so you will want to bring layers.
Stay Hydrated
While two-thirds of the earth is covered in water, barely a drop can be found in many desert regions. That’s why you’ll need to limit extra weight in your pack to better facilitate carrying more water than you normally would. A good rule of thumb for how much water you should carry is one liter for every 3-5 miles of trail. Combined with proper clothing and a hiking pace that is slow and steady, you should be able to stay hydrated between water fill-up locations.
Drink plenty of water the day before your hike so you aren’t started out at a deficit, and then sip water along the way. Don’t wait until you are thirsty, or you’ll have to play catch-up, which can be difficult once you are already dehydrated. If you start to feel cramps, nausea, or get a headache, you are experiencing signs of severe dehydration and you need to take a break and get some water in your system. It can also be helpful to add some electrolytes to your water to replace what you are sweating out. Test your hydration system on a shorter hike at home before heading out to the desert.
Five of the World’s Best Desert Regions
Dennis Jarvis
1. Great Basin
Located in the American Southwest, the Great Basin is home to Death Valley, the deserts of Utah, and most of Nevada. To best get a feel of the deserts of the region, visit Great Basin National Park and explore 60-plus miles of trails. Highlights of the region include Lehman Cave, Lexington Arch, and the oldest living organisms on earth, the bristlecone pine.
2. Sahara
As the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara spans over 3.5 million square miles, stretching the entire length of Northern Africa and covering 31% of the African continent. While there are thousands of cultural and scenic wonders in the region, a little known and must-see destination in the Sahara is Wadi Al Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Full of whale skeletons and other ancient aquatic fossils from when this area was an ocean, this section of desert can be found less than 100 miles south of Cairo.
3. Atacama
For 600 miles along the western flank of the nation of Chile, the Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert in the world. Known for possessing a Mars-like landscape, the region has numerous tourist destinations, incredible stargazing, geysers, volcanoes, and stunning sand dunes. This desert is one of the most diverse in views, but do not miss the Valle de la Luna and sunrise at the El Tatio Geyser. These are just a few of the incredible adventures found in Chile’s breathtaking desert region.
4. Great Victoria
Found in Western and Southern Australia, the Great Victoria Desert is almost 135,000 square miles and is the largest desert in Australia. Known as the most-vegetated desert Down Under, the area is also full of dingos, monitor lizards, frogs, and the southern marsupial mole. The region is a mixture of usage areas, with some regions restricted due to nuclear bomb testing, while other parts are open to activities such as sand sledding and boarding, hiking, and ATV travel. For a true remote desert experience, pick up a permit to camp in the Mamungari Conservation Park, a world biosphere reserve.
5. Gobi
Along the border of China and Mongolia, the rain shadow of the Tibetan Plateau has formed the Gobi Desert, a 500,000-square-mile desert full of wonder and beauty. Expanding each year, the fifth largest desert in the world is a desert lover’s dream, giving silence and solitude in the windswept region. While the sand dunes and rocky structures are breathtaking, most who visit the region are awestruck at the remains of the 1,800-mile Great Wall of China, slowly being covered by sand.
Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.
Featured image provided by Christopher Michel