Desert Camping/Survival

Loki

Loki

Joined
Mar 23, 2000
Messages
740
Anybody have some good info source for desert backpacking/survival? Any recommendations on sites, books and equipment appreciated. I'm looking to do some hiking in the Anza-Borrego. Thanks!:cool:
 
Book: "Outdoor Survival Skills" by Larry Dean Olsen. Great primitive survival skills, focusing mostly on the Great Basin. Very applicable to deserts in the sonoran zones, too.
 
i would reccomend david alloway's book on deasert survival, i have read it twice and found it very usefull.
alex
 
You can't go wrong with a copy of "Desert Survival Skills" by David Alloway(ISBN 0-292-70492-5). Mr. Alloway is a real deal "desert rat" and his book is full of info that is useful in any environment.

Also, Hoods Woods has just released the first (of two?) videos that cover arid lands. I haven't got my copy yet, but it has been well received. Check them out.

Hope that helps, Jason
 
I've been going down to Anza-Borrego since I was a kid in the late 50s/early 60s. It is a great place. Two good things to note are that there is a "flying ranger" who patrols from the air and who may be able to help in an emergency. Furthermore, rangers have told me about a number of people who have been stranded, but succeeded in getting a cell phone call through to them.

I have the Olsen book and like it a lot.

I've tried building survival stills/condensers in Borrego without much luck (even directly after March rains). That's one thing on which I wouldn't rely in Borrego.
 
Dances - You're about the only person I've seen who also likes Olsen. He seems to have been forgotten, or maybe was never widely known to start with. I set a lot of stock in that book and have used it as a basis for my entire survival philosophy and most of my survival knowledge. Just glad to see another Olsen fan out there...
 
Coyotlviejo,

When it comes to the Great Basin and the Desert Southwest, I agree that it is hard to beat Olsen. For the benefit of those who have not read his writings, his material is based upon what worked for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. He doesn't start with what kind of survival kit you should carry, he bases his work on what to do if you were dropped in one of those regions with nothing at all. The more time you spend outdoors with minimal gear, the more you see how good Olsen really is.

Although Olsen wouldn't be my first recommendation for jungle or arctic survival reading, a lot of the principles carry over to climates other than the Great Basin and Deserts.
 
coyotlviejo, I am a big fan of L.D Olsen as well. He is, IMHO, the founder of it all. Before his book no one really touched on primitaive skills. I havve never met him but have several extremely close friends that have. All say he is the most laid back approachable person you could ever want to meet. I plan on hitting a Rabbit Stick just to meet him.

As far as desert survival....David Alloway is the man.
 
Loki, the Anza-Borrego is an extremely dry desert that in some years gets no rain at all and about 6" other years. In June '96 they had a temperture of 121 degrees.

People die out here in the desert all the time. A couple died at a state park about thirty miles north of Tucson a couple of weeks ago. Lots of illegals die every year. Water is your first priority. You will probably have to carry all you will need unless the rangers at the park can tell you of a reliable source. Carry a map and compass and know where you are going. It is easy to get lost. Take a good wide brim hat and long sleeves and long pants. Good boots are a must too. If you are backpacking, you will have enough survival gear with you. Water is the big problem.

The Anza-Borrego looks very beautiful. Personally I go on the long desert treks in Fall/Winter and Spring. If you go then, you will want warm clothes too. It may be hot in the day but very cold at night. I choose the hight altitudes for long trips out here in the southest summer.

I recomend you get in touch with the park before you go. They will help you make some good plans and tell you of the particular dangers or problems for when you want to go.

Good luck.
 
Don't forget about extreme temperature changes. It can go from HOT in the day to pretty damn cold at night, even during the summer.

Make sure to leave your trip plans with loved ones. Be specific. I will park here and plan to return by ____. I am driving _____ with license plate______. I am wearing _______ with ______ shoes/boots. I am taking ______ gear with me. I am planning on heading in a _____ general direction.

If you are overdue, rescue Teams will have very good leads to start looking for you. A mirror, whistle and some bright construction flagging is good to have too.

6 ways in, 12 ways out is a good read for survival too, as well as the military field guides.
 
BoysNhisDog & Oni:

Thanks for the tips! Yes, the Anza Borrego is a place to be respected. Its beauty belies the harshness of the environment. My last visit the temp was about 110 degrees and with our drought the place is DRY. I'm not the guy to take truely challenging deep desert treks in mid-summer. Fall-winter-spring hikes for me. I live west of the desert about 40 miles and take day trips wandering about within sight of the roads and civilization. I am trying to work up the nerve and skill to do some camping and treks to the established sites in the reserve.
 
Check this out: Desert Survival Myths and Facts by David Alloway. BnHD's comments parallel what this article says--water is the key.

As an aside, I have very strong opinions regarding so-called survival books and have vented more than once on other forums. IMO, most are garbage, with one jerk with no experience copying what the previous jerk with no experience wrote.:mad: However, one of the books I've read that was truly informative was LDO's book. Some of the material he presents doesn't apply much to those of us surrounded by water, but at least you know he's BTDT. I think it's an important source for anyone traveling in the desert.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top