How to Prepare for a Desert Hiking Trip

How to Prepare for a Desert Hiking Trip

Desert hiking is a little different from throwing a backpack in the car and heading out for your usual weekend walk. The days can be brutally hot, the nights surprisingly cold, shade can be almost non-existent, and water becomes something you need to think about before you even leave the car.

A little preparation goes a long way. Whether you’re heading into Central Australia for a few days or planning a longer hiking trip through desert country, here are a few things worth thinking about before you go.

Don't Underestimate the Cold

When you picture the desert, cold probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

But once the sun disappears, temperatures can drop quickly — particularly during winter and the shoulder seasons. A warm day can turn into a very chilly evening, and if you're camping, you'll notice the difference even more.

Pack a warm layer or jacket even when the daytime forecast looks glorious. If you're camping, check the overnight temperatures as carefully as you check the daytime maximums.

Carry Plenty of Water

Water is obviously important on any hike, but in hot, dry conditions you can go through it remarkably quickly.

Work out how much you'll realistically need for the distance, conditions and difficulty of your hike, then carry a little extra rather than cutting it fine. Remember that you'll also need water before and after the hike, particularly if you're travelling somewhere without reliable drinking water.

Don't wait until you're desperately thirsty before drinking. Take regular sips throughout the day and pay attention to how you're feeling.

Add Electrolytes

When you're sweating heavily, you're losing more than water.

Electrolytes can be useful on long, hot hikes to help replace some of the salts lost through sweat. Tablets, powders and sachets are easy to throw into your hiking kit and don't take up much room.

Plain water should still form part of what you're drinking — the idea isn't to turn every bottle you own into fluorescent sports drink — but having electrolytes available can be handy when you're spending hours walking in the heat.

Pack Sweet and Salty Snacks

Hot weather can do strange things to your appetite. You might not feel particularly hungry even though you're burning plenty of energy.

Pack small snacks that are easy to eat while you're walking. A combination of sweet and salty options gives you some variety and means you're not staring sadly at your sixth muesli bar wondering where your life went wrong.

Nuts, pretzels, dried fruit, crackers, lollies, trail mix and snack bars are all easy to carry. Choose things you'll actually want to eat when you're hot and tired.

Choose a Comfortable Backpack

This isn't the trip for the backpack that almost fits properly.

You're going to sweat. A lot.

Look for a pack that's comfortable when loaded and, ideally, has some airflow between the pack and your back. Padded shoulder straps and a supportive hip belt can also make a huge difference when you're carrying several litres of water.

If you've bought a new pack for the trip, take it on a few walks beforehand. Finding out that a strap rubs after eight kilometres is much easier to deal with at home than halfway through a desert hike.

Be Sun Smart

There isn't always a convenient tree waiting around when you want some shade.

A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and lightweight clothing with good sun coverage can make hiking much more comfortable. Long sleeves might sound counterintuitive in hot weather, but lightweight, breathable fabric can protect your skin without making you feel like you're being slowly roasted.

Use a high-SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen and remember the easily forgotten spots — ears, neck, hands and the backs of your legs.

And bring lip balm with SPF. Desert air, wind and sun can absolutely destroy your lips.

Start Early

One of the easiest ways to deal with desert heat is simply not to hike through the worst of it.

For longer walks, an early start can get a significant chunk of the hike finished before temperatures peak. It can also mean quieter trails and some pretty spectacular morning light.

Check whether the area you're visiting has seasonal track closures or restrictions during extreme temperatures. Some desert walking tracks close when forecast temperatures reach certain levels, and those rules are there for good reason.

Know the Signs of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can develop when your body is struggling to cope with heat and fluid loss.

Symptoms can include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, thirst and feeling faint.

If someone starts showing signs of heat exhaustion, stop walking, move them somewhere cooler or shaded, loosen unnecessary clothing and begin cooling them. Fluids may help if they're conscious and able to drink safely.

Don't try to push through it just to finish the hike.

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is much more serious and is a medical emergency.

Someone experiencing heat stroke may become confused, disoriented, unsteady, collapse, have seizures or lose consciousness. Their body temperature may be extremely high.

Call emergency services and begin cooling them immediately while waiting for help.

Before heading into remote country, it's worth reading current first-aid advice for heat-related illness so you know what to do before you're standing on a trail trying to remember something you read six months ago.

Don't Rely on Phone Reception

Remote desert country and reliable mobile reception aren't exactly best friends.

Download offline maps before you leave and make sure someone knows where you're going and when you expect to return. For more remote hikes, consider carrying a Personal Locator Beacon or satellite communication device.

A phone with no signal is still useful for navigation, photos and emergency information, but only if it has battery. A small power bank is worth carrying too.

Check the Track Before You Go

Conditions in desert areas can change surprisingly quickly.

Heavy rain can close roads and walking tracks, flash flooding can make normally dry creek crossings dangerous, and extreme heat can result in temporary track closures.

Check the relevant park authority's alerts and weather forecast before setting out — preferably again on the morning of your hike.

Give Wildlife Some Space

Desert wildlife is remarkably good at surviving in an environment that seems determined to cook everything living in it.

Snakes, dingoes and other animals may be encountered on or near trails. Give wildlife plenty of room, don't attempt to feed or handle anything, and watch where you're putting your hands and feet around rocks and vegetation.

Leave a Little in the Tank

The desert isn't the place to discover your absolute physical limit.

Heat, sun exposure and carrying extra water can make a walk feel harder than the same distance would at home. Allow more time than you normally would and be prepared to turn around if the conditions aren't right.

The trail will still be there tomorrow.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

Desert hiking can take you through some extraordinary landscapes, but it's an environment that deserves a bit of respect.

Carry enough water, protect yourself from the sun, pack for both hot days and cold nights, know what heat illness looks like and make sure you've got a plan if something goes wrong.

Then you can spend considerably less time worrying about whether you've forgotten something important — and considerably more time enjoying being out there.