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Hiking the desert is unlike any other type of hiking. With plants that want to poke you and animals that seem to blend in with their surroundings more than others, there is a whole range of challenges that arise when hiking the desert.
But hiking the desert in the summer is something else entirely! If you go to any national park in the desert you’ll be greeted with signs everywhere saying “Don’t die today!”…I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty terrifying! I guess there is always a risk of death any time you go hiking, but to have it called out on signs everywhere I turn? Yikes!
Below I’ve rounded up the top 7 tips for hiking the desert in summer. Stay safe everyone; maybe I’ll see you on the trails!
- Bring at least a gallon of water with you. I personally used this 3 liter bladder by CamelBak. I also had a 16oz S’well bottle filled with water in my bag.
- Do not hike between the hours of 10am and 4pm; these are the hottest hours in the desert and put you at the highest risk of heat exhaustion.
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen that is at least SPF 30. (You can read more about why you should only be wearing reef-safe sunscreen here.)
- Wear a hat to help cover your face. The National Parks Service recommends one of those hats that also has a flap that covers the back of your neck.
- I know it’s hot, but make sure you wear completely closed toe and closed heel shoes. I would even go so far as to suggest boots that also cover your ankles. You just never know when you’ll miss a cactus low to the ground and get stuck. I really like the Gypsum II by Keen, which you can find here.
- Bring salty snacks and/or electrolyte tabs to put into your water. Your body needs salt to function properly, but when you sweat as much as you do while hiking the desert you’re going to lose a lot of it. Salty snacks will help restore some of that, while the electrolyte tabs will replenish some of the salt as well as other nutrients you may have lost. I really like NUUN hydration tablets. They come in a small enough tube that I can just pop in my pocket and go, and they taste pretty good which is always preferred.
- What to do if you see a rattlesnake: Stop moving, assess the situation, and slowly back away. It is recommended that you hike with hiking poles so you can put it out in front of you in the hopes that the snake will go for the pole and not your leg. However, if you’re flying to Joshua Tree and sticking with just a carry on bag, hiking poles are not allowed. If you don’t have poles and see a rattlesnake, I would very slowly suggest taking off your pack and holding it low in front of your shins as you slowly back away.
*Bonus Tip: Tell someone what trails you plan on hiking for the day. If you don’t know anyone in Southern California, check in with a ranger before heading out. The desert is a vast place and heat stroke (or something worse) can strike at any time. If a search party needs to be sent out for you, your chances of being found are significantly higher if someone knows where you planned on being.
Looking for a packing list for hiking the desert? Look no further than right here!
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