Lets start easy-
Sun exposure- limit long amounts of traveling etc., to night time- wear long sleeves and head wraps- there is a reason desert dwellers regardless location are either extremely dark OR covered from head too toe - evolution produced melanin etc., those without extra in that area, eg., like myself being quite reflective- long sleeves, long pants and I use keffiyahs/ head wraps and at least a front brimmed hat if not a all around brimmed hat. (Layers are even more important in the high desert, with extreme heat during day through extreme cold at night the back and forths will quickly kill the unsuspecting individual hence the reason you hear of more people dying hiking 5 miles from phoenix then in the Canadian wilderness.) I ONLY use cotton as an undershirt/ underwear everything else is a poly wool blend. including socks. Light weight clothing layered will provide as much warmth as anything else out there and using your head wrap for a shade during midday (hence the term siesta) eg., 10 am through 4pm the hottest time of the day is essential.
Water- the single most important item on the list of items for ANY survival type- in the high desert/desert it becomes even more necessary.
With time the human body can adjust to a more regimented and limited intake of water- for those who have spent allot of time overseas or in the high desert, have you found that locals actually tend to sweat less? Its a simple chemistry change in the body- it learns to adjust its water output to meet the intake. - I learned with time to reduce my intake to just a few ounces a day for upwards of a week at times and have never noticed a detrimental affect overall - so 2 gallons while necessary in most situations is not essential, less is quite easily done for short amounts of time- much longer then two weeks etc., and you will get kidney stones/ lose kidney function and potentially damage very valuable parts that cannot be replaced -
this being said, dehydration will kill you faster than ANY natural bacteria found in water supplies- so my solution has been three fold-
1. I always have a kelly kettle/ water filter combo on me, the added weight is worth it always- If you are caught without these, staying hydrated still outweighs the risks of contaminants in the short term) another item I use is apple cider vinegar- drink a cap full prior to drinking or eating foods you are not sure of and reduce your chances for upset stomach issues after the fact
2. I always ensure that I know where water is likely to be. (Hint, follow the birds, animals and or get high enough to see clumps of vegetation when possible)
animals especially birds will remain within easy walking/flying distance of water - they almost always bed down during the hottest times of the day and move closer to night fall and right after sunrise-
3. Carrying water - at 8.3 lbs per gallon it is an investment to carry allot of water- I reduce mid day travel and carry enough water to get me to the next watering hole- using camelbacks now - but back in the 80's I used two milspec canteens - a sip or two every 100 paces will get you quite far and kills the potential for losing ones mind which again can happen if you dont maintain your concentration- use your mind, its your greatest tool and greatest weapon.
Oh yeah, RULE - NEVER Camp directly next too a water source (I always camp 100 yards out and downwind if at all possible) - it may also end up being your food source- and in a shtf/teotwawki situation- guarding that source will become more important then any other aspect of your survival- however, knowledge of multiple additional sources will in fact become even MORE important and necessary- so GET outside and hike about- but remember, do it at night, half through full moons in most southwestern states will provide almost daylight vision ability away from cities-
Did that help?
