Desert Travel Tips

[Robert Schaller]

A few months ago, an extremely fit and experienced desert hiker attempted a run in the Grand Canyon and ended up dying in the middle of it. The onset of heat illness was so quick, that she was unprepared to deal with it and didn't act in time to save herself -- probably never realized what serious trouble she was in.

On MY first hike to Supai (also a Grand Canyon-area hike) I hiked in the early morning hours (in what was probably 90 degree temperatures in the sunlight) -- but the hike was in shade for many parts of the way -- and I carried plenty of water. BUT, because I was comfortable and didn't seem thirsty, I didn't DRINK the water -- I hiked -- and I hiked fast, for about three hours.

By the time I covered the 9 miles to the village, I was suffering from heat sickness and collapsed in a heap at the tourist office on my arrival there. Again, it happened so quickly that had I still been on the trail, and in a place without shade, I would have been in serious trouble. As it was, my recovery took almost an hour, and I felt terrible for two or three hours after that. I finally recovered by sitting in the cold waters of Havasu Creek, under the kind ministrations of a couple of very fine school teachers.

The point is that desert heat is nothing to fool with -- a person is smart to take the advised precautions seriously and religiously.

The other "rule" that comes to mind is if you are not prepared to break down in the desert -- don't go off-road. Those of us who live in desert areas drive around all the time, most without any thought of the dangers -- but the smart ones among us keep basic survival items in the vehicle all the time -- these become an absolute requirement for any off-road adventures -- in many, many parts of the southwest, you can literally disappear within a few feet of a main roadway -- some of them are so little-traveled that no one EVER goes out there (and if you are not a local, you won't know which roads those are). If you go off-road, you have to be prepared with all the tools and materiel you need to rescue yourself, including plenty of drinking water.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Bob -- Great post --

A few years ago I was on a several day hike in the Grand Canyon and ran out of water -- mostly as a result of hubris. As it turned out, I was in good physical condition and knew some desert survival techniques (which worked) but I could have been in serious trouble. Word to the wise -- drink water several times an hour -- whether you want to or not. One of the typical problems that arise, that has not been mentioned here yet, is UTI (urinary tract infections) heat causes stress that can lead to all sorts of problems. And you don't have to be walking -- I have seen it happen to otherwise healthy roadtrippers who didn't drink enough in their cars....

[PNW Judy]

I highly recommend reading Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon by Thomas M. Myers and Michael P. Ghiglieri.

This is not some book written for shock value. One of the writers is a physician that has worked at the Grand Canyon clinic for quite some time and the other is a former Grand Canyon NP Ranger who now leads river-rafting trips in the canyon.

The book is divided into sections like deaths by drowning (river rafters and those who get caught in flashfloods) and those who have died, or almost died, from heat stroke, and many other situations. I picked this up at the Grand Canyon AFTER the incident I experienced. If I had read this before, I would have had more idea of warning signs, etc.

Anyway, the book offers great advice for many different situations that can be found anywhere, not just in the Grand Canyon. I highly recommend it.

[Mass Tim]

Well, about a week or so ago we had another incident at work, where someone succumbed to the pressures of heat. This person had been taking all the necessary precautions, drinking plenty of fluids, keeping cool, etc. Two things did this person in:

1) (lack of) fitness - I'd say this person is well over 330 lbs.
2) too much caffeine - we asked what this person had been drinking "water, sports drink, (famous-name caffeinated citrus beverage)

This caffeine thing...I'm as guilty as anyone of overdoing it. Man that stuff is addictive! But, again, it doesn't help in this situation.

The temperature at work that day, combined with the humidity and this person's condition ended up in a trip on the ambulance. We knew this person was in trouble because (they) stopped sweating. And that pasty, ghostly look...

Stay safe out there!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, about a week or so ago we had another incident at work, where someone succumbed to the pressures of heat. This person had been taking all the necessary precautions, drinking plenty of fluids, keeping cool, etc. Two things did this person in:
1) (lack of) fitness - I'd say this person is well over 330 lbs.
2) too much caffeine - we asked what this person had been drinking "water, sports drink, (famous-name caffeinated citrus beverage)

Plenty of concerns for all us with caffeine -- Thanks the update.

mark

[helenkova]

This tips are very useful. I had my own experience of working in the desert area on direct sun and heat of 120, not easy, but good money! I learned some things.
First of all, look al locals (the deasert nomads), the way they eat, dress is very different. They protect body not only from cold, but also from heat. When it is hot, we tend to take away our cloth, but they have same robe to wear chilly winter o summer. I was wearing long pants and long sleeves and hat! You may feel hot ior uncomfortable, but not faint.
Second, summer time we like ice drinks, they drink hot green tea. Never drink cold stuff! Boiling hot tea is the best when you get used to it.

[shirohniichan]

I read about death from heat exhaustion every once in a while in the newspaper, and it reminds me to take precautions.

A few years back a member of a high school track team (supposedly a 17-year old in excellent physical shape) died on a morning run from heat exhaustion. She collapsed on a trail, and other track members stopped to help her by giving her water. Investigators said she could have been saved if instead of just giving her water to drink someone would have thought to pour water on the back of her neck, under her arm pits, and between her thighs. Supposedly this is one of the quickest ways to cool someone down who is suffering from heat exhaustion. Are there any here with medical experience who can verify this?

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'll try and get verification of that technique, the way I've treated heat exhaustion -- I've found a couple of people on the trail over the years in dire need of medical assistance -- was to first get them into some shade --whether constructed or a nearby rock/bush/etc, get something under them (to protect from the hot ground and collect the water run-off -- place a t-shirt under their shoulders and neck area (and then soaked with water) then moderately sprinkle water down their chest and thigh area -- the immediate problem with simply pouring water is one of supply -- water is very precious in the back-country and the need to conserve and use the evaporative aspects of water by fanning the victim (gently) to help cool the person. Excessive heat and cold can have dramatic effects on the human body and both require quick response. In my experience, response-speed trumps location and so it's better to start treatment first rather than move to shade if it's not readily available.

Just an aside, one time skiing solo in northern California I was caught in a 100% white-out and I wasn't properly prepared and experienced profound vertigo and developed classic hypothermia -- I belatedly recognized the symptoms and was able to effect a self-rescue -- but the reason I mention it here was even though it was about 5 degrees F I felt like I was over-heating and my response (which I resisted -- luckily) was to start removing my cap, parka, gloves -- which in those conditions could have been rather serious -- the wind, cold and lack of visual reference short-circuited my brain relatively quickly -- and the same thing can happen in heat exhaustion -- a victim can go from feeling uncomfortable to being "in serious trouble" very quickly.