The Ultimate Desert Handbook A Manual for Desert Hikers, Campers and Travelers

by Johnson, G. Mark

• ISBN13: 9780071393034
• ISBN10: 007139303X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-16
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press

Summary

Here is the first truly complete book on desert travel, exploration, and survival, presenting the desert not as an alien environment to be overcome or endured, but rather as a fascinating opportunity for anyone eager to learn about and safely enjoy a different kind of outdoor experience. Assuming no prior desert know-how, this guide is intended for hikers, backpackers, vehicle travelers and campers, and the wide range of enthusiasts pursuing their chosen activities into the desert: mountain bikers, ultralight plane and glider pilots, rock climbers, birding enthusiasts, rock and fossil hunters, and wildlife and landscape photographers. Even dayhikers and occasional tourists to desert locations will find the book easy to understand and extremely useful.

Author Biography

Mark Johnson has eighteen years of experience in desert hiking and exploration in North America and North Africa. A frequent writer and lecturer on the subject, he has been published in several magazines, including Four-Wheeler and Desert Survivor.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(3)
Why the Desert?
The Desert World	4	(8)
Arabian Desert
Atacama Desert
Australian Deserts
Gobi
Iranian Desert
Kalahari Desert
Kara Kum
Kyzyl Kum
Monte and Patagonian Deserts
Namib Desert
Sahara
Takla Makan Desert
Thar Desert
North American Deserts	12	(20)
Sonoran Desert
Mojave Desert
Great Basin
Chihuahuan Desert
Plants and Animals of the North American Deserts
Water Supplies	32	(16)
Carrying Water
Getting Water from Local Sources
Treating Groundwater
Too Much Water? The Problem of Water Intoxication
Starting Out	48	(4)
U.S. Public Lands
Foreign Destinations
Hiking the Desert	52	(19)
Acclimatization and Day Hiking
Planning Your Hike
Hiking Off-Trail
Rocky Trails and Desert Peaks
Canyons, Washes, Wadis, and Arroyos
Hiking Dune Desert
Quicksand
Lava Flows and Boulder Fields
Dry Lakebeds
Night Hiking
Food and Water Caches
Desert Hiking for Fun
Equipment	71	(17)
Footgear
Sun Protection, Desert Clothing---and Rain Gear
Backpacks
Tents and Shelters
Sleeping Bags, Pads, and Bedrolls
Backcountry Necessities
Miscellaneous Gear
The Desert Camp: The Site, the Camp, Food, and Fire	88	(8)
Choosing a Site
Keeping Clean
Food, Fires, Stoves, and Cooking Gear
Navigation	96	(58)
The Importance of Learning to Navigate
Navigation Tools
Map Reading and Methods of Navigation
Distances and the Desert
Reading Sign
Navigating with Few Landmarks
GPS Navigation
Desert Hazards and First Aid	154	(36)
Biting and Stinging Insects and Arachnids
Falls on Steep Terrain
People
Reptile and Animal Hazards
Weather
First Aid
Treating Injuries
Surviving in the Desert	190	(26)
Getting Found
Emergency Navigation Tools
Finding Your Location in an Emergency
Getting Water
Food and Survival
Protecting Yourself Against Desert Heat and Cold
Useful Survival Gear
Survival Communications
Desert Transportation	216	(27)
Animal Transport
Motorized Vehicles
Mountain Biking the Desert	243	(9)
Choosing the Right Bike
Choosing the Right Tires
Riding Sandy Terrain
Night Riding
Desert Trail Hazards
Water Supplies
Clothing and Sun Protection
Navigation
Emergency Gear
Wildlife Observation and Desert Photography	252	(13)
Choosing an Observation Site
Optical Equipment: Binoculars, Monoculars, and Scopes
Nighttime Observation
Desert Flowers and Plant Life
The Desert Camera
A Parting Word	265	(2)
Appendix 1. Desert Questions and Answers	267	(4)
Appendix 2. GPS and the UTM Grid Location System	271	(2)
Appendix 3. Other Distance Estimation Methods	273	(2)
Appendix 4. Vehicle Maintenance Checklist	275	(4)
Appendix 5. Metric Conversion Chart	279	(1)
Glossary	280	(2)
Bibliography	282	(2)
Resources	284	(7)
Acknowledgments	291	(1)
Index	292