Desert Wanderers

Some see the desert for its wild beauty and open spaces, the soaring dunes that change color with each hour of the day and the wide spaces that appear barren, but which are covered with small plants and intricate flowers. Others consider deserts a part of their history and heritage; adventurers like to follow the old camel caravan paths, from water well to water well; families may see a trip to the desert as a chance to teach their children how to survive with limited resources.

An Evening In The Desert

Whatever draws you to the desert, it is a place to experience nature in its wild beauty and simplicity. But in the desert simplicity doesn’t mean safe or even easy, and those who don’t prepare for a trip to the desert can quickly find themselves in trouble or even in life threatening situations.

 

Stay safe!

When to go
One of the important elements of desert traveling is when to go. If you go to a sandy desert, traveling during rainy seasons is fine, as the sand will be well packed. However, if the desert is muddy, traveling at this time is dangerous because the vehicle will sink easily and even a rescue team will have great difficulty getting to you to provide help.

Go with a group
The best and safest way to spend time in the desert is to go with a group of people and a number of vehicles.

Keep in touch
Another important safeguard is letting a close friend or family member know your plans: where you plan to go and when you plan to return. Mark your route on a map and leave them a copy. As you’re traveling, call your contact every day or two and update them on where you are. That way if you do experience a breakdown, it will be quicker and easier to locate you. And remember to call when you return home!

 

Pick the camping area

Beautiful Desert View

Ideally, start your desert trips with experienced campers. This will give you the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge, as well as minimize the risks. In the desert a good camping spot can be a matter of life and death. In a sandy desert, try to camp beside sand dune curves to avoid strong winds. The tent door should be opposite the wind direction to reduce wind disturbance. Camping beside sand dunes helps avoid lightning bolts as they strike the highest objects around. (If you stay where there are no sand dunes, park your vehicle at a distance from your sleeping location so you will not be exposed.)

In a muddy desert, avoid lowland areas and set up camp at the top of a knoll. The desert climate is unpredictable, and unexpected rain can quickly flood an area. Even rain that falls far from your location can cause a flood that will wash away your campsite in a matter of minutes, making it impossible to even get your vehicle out in time. When you select a knoll for your campsite, make sure it has a clear way out to a higher and safer area.

 

Supplies

Pack enough food and water, plus a little extra, for the whole trip. Extra food and water will help you survive longer if needed. Dry and canned food or any food that can last, including dates and dried fruits, are good choices. Bring enough fuel and oil for the whole trip. Carry extra in appropriate metal containers. Plastic containers explode or crack easily in the heat from the accumulated vapor inside. See “Suggested camping checklist” at the end of this article for a complete list of supplies.

 

Desert animals

Most people prefer to go to the desert when the weather is mild or even a bit cold. Not only is the weather more comfortable, but most dangerous animals and insects are hibernating or in their burrows at night. When considering desert animals, an important desert camping technique is to avoid camping beside bushes in rocky areas, where animals have their burrows, or beside seasonal lakes which attract creatures looking for food and water. More importantly, don’t leave food out near the camping areas or leave cookers and camp stoves outside for cleaning later. Doing so will attract wild animals to your camping area. Some campers burn all their garbage and uneaten food before going to sleep. While this may seem like a good way to clean up, it actually attracts dangerous animals and insects that can smell the cooked food. It is safest to store the food in a vehicle or even bury it deep in the ground.

Be considerate to camels and their herders

Most of us get a thrill from seeing the wild camels in their natural habitat, but what many don’t know is that these animals can be easily frightened and hurt.

 

Stick with what you know

Shortcuts may look good on a map. They appear to be time savers, but in the desert there is often a good reason that the road doesn’t always follow the shortest route. Soft sand has trapped many vehicles; sabkha looks like flat open terrain, but a vehicle can break through the thin crust and be quickly mired in marsh water and mud. The desert has many unmarked water wells and caves that can’t be spotted from a vehicle until too late. Regrettably, many supposedly good shortcuts have ended in the loss of a vehicle as well as time. It is always important to know about the desert terrain and where you are going.

 

Prepare an emergency plan

Beautiful Desert View

Inexperienced desert travelers do not give emergency planning enough attention and panic when things go wrong. Improvised actions can make the situation worse and may even lead to a loss of life. Planning for an emergency will prepare you to respond to unexpected situations, how to ask for help and how to survive until help arrives.

Make sure your vehicle is in top condition

Having your vehicle in good condition increases its reliability for off-road trips. A full service of the mechanical and electrical parts of your vehicle, such as battery, tires (including the spare), radiator, rotating belts, hoses and fluids, will reduce the chance of unexpected failures.

Take the right tools

Having the right tools, such as a shovel, towing belt, tool box, spare battery, car generator, jumper cables and fuel pump will help if something goes wrong with your vehicle. Also consider where you will be using the tools and make adjustments. For example, using a jack on the road works well, but it will just sink into the sand without support, so bring a strong piece of wood to put under the jack and wherever possible carry two jacks with you.

Carry communication equipment

Communication equipment is very important on desert trips. Mobile phones are useful near villages or areas where service coverage is available, but they may not have service in more remote areas. Radios allow you to communicate with nomads or with official authorities and nearby workers. Satellite phones are best as they give you full access to help in case of emergencies. Remember to bring spare batteries, charger cables and antennas for radios and phones.

Never leave the vehicle

It can be tempting to try to walk out of the desert if there’s a problem, but distances can be deceptive and walking through sand in the heat can wear you out much faster than walking a similar distance anywhere else. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that even before you start walking, you are likely to be tired from attempts to fix or free the vehicle and the overall stress of the situation. The safest option is to stay with the vehicle. Why? Because the vehicle is large, it is easier for searchers to spot. The vehicle also provides you with shade and shelter. During the heat of the day, dig a trench under the vehicle and stay there in the shade. Do not be tempted to drink the radiator fluid in a vehicle, as most radiator fluid contains high amounts of ethylene glycol which is poisonous.

 

A place like no other

Although the desert appears empty, those who spend time in the desert find that it is full of life and beauty.

A trip to the desert can bring a family closer together as they rediscover the joy of living simply with nature.

Courtesy: Panorama | 2012 Issue