Travel Tips - Traveling in the Desert

TRAVEL TIPS

Tips for Traveling in the Desert

Desert Travel Tips

Traveling in the desert, is a whole different ballgame than traveling the rest of the American West. To make sure that your desert adventure is a success, check out this list of travel tips.

When To Go – In most cases, spring and fall are the best times to visit the desert. It just goes, without saying, that it’s too hot in the summer. In the Mojave desert temperatures can be very cold in the winter and consistently in excess of 100 °F in the summer and early fall. In the late winter and early spring strong winds are common in excess of 25 mph, with gusts of 75 mph or more are not uncommon. In Death Valley, temperatures of 130°F are frequent.

Sonoran Desert

Sonoran Desert courtesy Desert USA

Off Road Adventures – Make sure you know where you’re going as it’s easy to get lost in the desert. Before striking out on back country roads or hiking along trails, it’s a good idea to consult with park rangers. Road and trail conditions change quickly and often - they can tell what the current conditions are. Plus, someone will have a general idea of where you are. In hot weather, it is advised to stay on the main paved roads since they are patrolled periodically.

Drinking Water – Carry at least one gallon per day/person of drinking water. Plastic containers work better than metal containers or water bags. While drinking water can be obtained at several places in desert parks, you cannot rely on this, as some water sources must be purified before it is suitable to drink. If you are relying on a spring that is listed on a map, when you arrive there, it might be dried up. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to follow the minimum guidelines for one gallon/person/day, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little extra. Don’t ignore this guideline if you’re just traveling across the desert by car. Any number of things could happen and you need to have a stocked up water supply.

Sun and Heat Exposure – In the desert, you just need to avoid exposure to the sun at all costs. Sunburns can be very serious, and and heat stroke or heat exhaustion can prove fatal. It is advisable to wear a hat, sunscreen and dark sunglasses. Even though it’s hot, plan on wearing light, loose long sleeve shirts and long pants. Remember to reapply sunscreen periodically to any exposed areas. Time your walking in the early morning and late afternoon when the sun is not as intense.

Stay out of Mines – Dotted throughout the desert, you may stumble upon or see an old mine that is awfully tempting to explore. Don’t!! Areas near mines often conceal deep shafts where the timbers in its tunnels are rotten. One bad step and you could wind up at the bottom of one of these deep shafts. Mines and tunnels may also be filled with flammable and poisonous gases. Though authorities are doing the best that they can to fill in these abandoned mines, dozens of people are injured and killed each year by stumbling into these old mines.

Thunderstorms – Quick and violent thunderstorms are not uncommon in the desert. Keep your eye on the sky – even when you can only see the storm in the distance. Flash flooding in canyons, washes and gullies are frequent. If you see lightening or a developing storm anywhere near you, stay out of these areas.

Insects and Biting Flies – Though generally not dangerous, these pesky critters can be bothersome and when the flies get to biting, it stings! Carry and use a good insect repellent.

Automobile Care – You cannot take too many precautions for your automobile before traveling through the desert. Here is a list of things to think about:

Car Inspection -- Before your trip, have your car thoroughly inspected by a competent mechanic. Carry spare hoses and belts in your trunk.
Keep tires at normal pressure. Soft tires can generate heat and cause blowouts. If you think the tires are riding hard, stop along the road for a few minutes; you will find that tires cool quickly.
Frequently check the gasoline, oil and water temperatures gauges. Service stations can be miles apart in the desert. Carry additional oil and water for your car in your trunk.
Watch the temperature gauge. If your vehicle is air conditioned and the gauge indicates that the engine is close to overheating, turn off the air conditioner. If the engine overheats, pull to the side of the road but do not stop the engine. Turn on the heater and , while the car is at fast idle, slowly pour water over the radiator core to cool it. Refill the radiator to its proper level only after the engine has cooled; the motor should be kept running.
Road grades can be deceptive. On warm days, shift to a lower gear that will allow the car to accelerate on grades and drive slowly to avoid overheating the engine.
Vapor lock may temporarily disable your vehicle. In that event, wrap a wet cloth around the fuel pump and line to cool them (for carbureted engines only).
Stay with your car. If your car breaks down, stay in the shade it provides and wait for help to arrive. Do not attempt to walk for assistance.

Beware of the Hantavirus – While there is no evidence to suggest that travel should be restricted in the desert, there have been several reports of the disease in the deserts of the American West. Listed below is a list of useful precautions:

Avoid coming into contact with rodents and rodent burrows or disturbing dens (such as pack rat nests).
Air out, then disinfect cabins or shelters before using them. These places often shelter rodents.
Do not pitch tents or place sleeping bags in areas in proximity to rodent droppings or burrows or near areas that may shelter rodents or provide food for them (e.g., garbage dumps or woodpiles).
If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground. In shelters, use a cot with the sleeping surface at least 12 inches above the ground. Use tents with floors or a ground cloth if sleeping in the open air.
Keep food in rodent-proof containers!
Promptly bury (or--preferably--burn followed by burying, when in accordance with local requirements) all garbage and trash, or discard in covered trash containers.
Use only bottled water or water that has been disinfected by filtration, boiling, chlorination, or iodination for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, and brushing teeth.
And last but not least, do not play with or handle any rodents that show up at the camping or hiking site, even if they appear friendly.

August, 2004

Saguraro Cactus near Oatman, Arizona

Saguraro Cactus near Oatman, Arizona,

December, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

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