balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Nov 21, 2020 19:52:20 GMT -8
Camping in the desert can certainly make your pack lighter. Think of all the things you get to leave behind: fishing gear, bug repellent, water filtration gear, bear canister. And you might not even need a tent. That's more than a few ounces--it might even be a few pounds!
And then you remember that you will also have to carry all of your water--a gallon a day per person, at the very minimum. And it doesn't see like such a good deal after all. Sigh.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 21, 2020 21:03:38 GMT -8
I dearly love desert backpacking. The water is a problem, though, and all the deserts I go to have plenty of bears. The desert is worth the extra weight for me, as long as I can still lug it.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 21, 2020 22:13:54 GMT -8
I like the desert, too. I especially like backpacking in the desert to places where there is water. Having to carry it all limits to a single night.
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Post by hikerjer on Nov 22, 2020 1:27:30 GMT -8
I really enjoy camping in the desert but water is an issue. Any of you experienced desert rats have any suggestions. And yes, I have tried dehydrated water so don’t go there.
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tomas
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Post by tomas on Nov 22, 2020 7:02:47 GMT -8
I've only done a few day hikes in the desert outside of Albuquerque in the distant past. I'd love to try an overnight or a multiday for the uniqueness of it.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Nov 22, 2020 7:04:44 GMT -8
After 2 days of desert hiking you'll be wishing your pack still had 16 extra pounds of water weight. Some tips. -Start early in the day and drink as much water as you can before getting started.
-Wear long sleeve breathable shirts and wear long pants. Wear a floppy hat that covers your neck and face.
-Take advantage of shade whenever you can. If it's a breezy day then stop every once in a while and turn your body so that the breeze is coming from the side and then loosen your pack and lean back so that the wind goes between the pack and your back. If you come across a breezy and shady place, stop for a pack off break and let your body cool itself down.
-Avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day. In fact find a shady spot and take a nap. Start up later in the afternoon and hike as long as you can still see.
-There are a lot of roads in the desert. If possible, make a water drop before starting the hike.
-Learn to trust your filter/purifier. That stagnant and stinky cow pond/tank may be the only water source for 10 miles. Top off at every viable water you come across. It may be the last one you come across for awhile.
-Consult the web for others who may have been in the area recently for water conditions and availability. There are some websites that track water sources and rate them based on other hiker's input.
-Sunscreen? That's up to you. Personally, I never use it mainly because it tends to clog my spores. Your body's ability to sweat and have that sweat evaporate away is the best way to stay cool. Wear clothing that covers almost all exposed skin.
-Replenish electrolytes throughout the day. This is more important than you think. I learned that lesson from Rumi during our Grand Canyon hike. He gave me one of his electrolyte tablets to add to my water. I could literally feel the strength returning almost immediately. I would have really struggled without his advice and generosity.
-Have a cooler with water waiting back at your vehicle.
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Nov 22, 2020 7:11:21 GMT -8
All good tips, DD--except that one about the "spores." I'm guessing you meant pores....
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 22, 2020 7:29:53 GMT -8
All good tips, DD--except that one about the "spores." I'm guessing you meant pores.... You beat me to it... I was starting to wonder if he’d come hiking out of Area 51...
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Nov 22, 2020 7:35:01 GMT -8
I think desert hiking gives you an appreciation for water that's so elemental. Of course, it can make you a little obsessive... My friends/family are generally amused when we go camping and I'm always monitoring our water, consolidating the little bits left in various containers, insisting on reusing cooking water for dishwashing. Top off at every viable water you come across. ^^ Yes. I also think in terms of tucking away an extra liter "for the group" if you're hiking with others. I think, even if you're used to hiking solo or self-sufficiently, water is the first thing that becomes communal commodity in an emergency.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Nov 22, 2020 9:08:22 GMT -8
This is more broadly a discussion including waterless backpacking, something I often do in the Sierra Nevada in order to camp where I plan to either do dusk or dawn photography. That same purpose applies in deserts. Carrying enough water in the desert is the prime issue as water is so heavy that anything beyond a couple nights is difficult even during winter. It also means one is not likely to be cooking food with water so add cooking gear to b's list of items not brought.
Of significant difference to the style of most backpackers is it is more about the destination and not the journey so is not your usual hike all day then camp mode but rather a short one or two night base camp at pleasant places. After setting up camp, that is when one can explore areas hiking more conveniently versus doing so from a road especially late and early.
One may backpack waterless high deserts like the Colorado Plateau during spring however summer is impractical due to heat. Lower elevation deserts are better visited during late winter and spring when after winter rains landscapes with vegetation and flowers is greatly more interesting and aesthetic even if no surface water is available.
A significant positive is there are vast areas in our Southwest deserts especially in the national parks within a couple easy to lug some water miles of paved and especially dirt roads that are very much worth camping at. Almost no visitors even in parks are venturing out into trail-less expanses so everything looks pristine without human footprints. As a Death Valley ranger related, people are afraid of trail-less waterless places. Although many may conjure up visions of sun baked sand dunes, actually most deserts have considerable topography for shade especially down in ravines and arroyos. Such dry water courses have clean sand and bedrock making ideal places to camp tent-less.
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Nov 23, 2020 4:55:50 GMT -8
I really enjoy camping in the desert but water is an issue. Any of you experienced desert rats have any suggestions. And yes, I have tried dehydrated water so don’t go there. Some places have springs along the route, like the PCT or various Gila loops, but requires planning. Also when it comes to long trails, real quick those distances become thru hiker distances (“only 20 miles to the next water”). Helps to see if it’s been a “wet” winter too, though some deserts may contain mountain sections with serious snow and ice exposure (a PCT hiker died from a slip earlier this year).
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Nov 23, 2020 5:17:04 GMT -8
The older I get, the less I enjoy carrying more than 2 gallons. In fact, 2 gallons is now my limit. That means I need to plan on finding a water source at least every other day. That is what limits my planning to areas where water is scarce. If I cannot be certain of a water source, then it is not a source I rely on. I only bp in areas where water can be counted on.
That said, there are plenty of desert SW areas where water can be found within the required parameters. Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Zion, and so many others.
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digger
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Post by digger on Nov 24, 2020 14:18:20 GMT -8
Dang, 16 pounds of water sounds like a lot. What's the most you've ever carried?
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 24, 2020 14:21:53 GMT -8
Dang, 16 pounds of water sounds like a lot. What's the most you've ever carried? The most water I've carried is 28 pounds, which I did quite a few times. I've carried 16 pounds of water on a dayhike pretty often.
ETA: for shorter distances after a water source, I've carried over 32 pounds of water, but not more than 4 miles with that much.
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Post by bluefish on Nov 24, 2020 14:56:25 GMT -8
1. Sea to Summit Water carrier that straps nicely to top of pack- 1.4 gallons. 2. Osprey bladder 3qts. 3. 40oz. Gator Aid or electrolyte mix
I'm guessing around 22lbs. with container weight. Love desert hiking, but usually go in early Spring when water is more plentiful. Have gone in the Superstitions when dry, the Inyos and Panamints and the Manzanos in New Mexico. No water generally equals no people. Perfect!
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