Table of Contents

Chapter 1. IntroductionWhy the Desert?Chapter 2. The Desert WorldArabian Desert; Atacama Desert; Australian Deserts; Gobi; Iranian Desert; Kalahari Desert; Kara Kum; Kyzyl Kum; Monte and Patagonian Deserts; Namib Desert; Sahara; Takla Makan Desert; Thar DesertChapter 3. North American DesertsSonoran Desert; Mojave Desert; Great Basin; Chihuahuan Desert; Plants and Animals of the North American DesertsChapter 4. Water SuppliesCarrying Water; Getting Water from Local Sources; Treating Groundwater; Too Much Water? The Problem of Water IntoxicationChapter 5. Starting OutU.S. Public Lands; Foreign DestinationsChapter 6. Hiking the DesertAcclimatization and Day Hiking; Planning Your Hike; Hiking Off-Trail; Rocky Trails and Desert Peaks; Canyons, Washes, Wadis, and Arroyos; Hiking Dune Desert; Quicksand; Lava Flows and Boulder Fields; Dry Lakebeds; Night Hiking; Food and Water Caches; Desert Hiking for FunChapter 7. EquipmentFootgear; Sun Protection, Desert Clothing--and Rain Gear; Backpacks; Tents and Shelters; Sleeping Bags, Pads, and Bedrolls; Backcountry Necessities; Miscellaneous GearChapter 8. The Desert Camp: The Site, the Camp, Food, and FireChoosing a Site; Keeping Clean; Food, Fires, Stoves, and Cooking GearChapter 9. NavigationThe Importance of Learning to Navigate; Navigation Tools; Map Reading and Methods of Navigation; Distances and the Desert; Reading Sign; Navigating with Few Landmarks; GPS NavigationChapter 10. Desert Hazards and First AidBiting and Stinging Insects and Arachnids; Falls on Steep Terrain; People; Reptile and Animal Hazards; Weather; First Aid; Treating InjuriesChapter 11. Surviving in the DesertGetting Found; Emergency Navigation Tools; Finding Your Location in an Emergency; Getting Water; Food and Survival; Protecting Yourself Against Desert Heat and Cold; Useful Survival Gear; Survival CommunicationsChapter 12. Desert TransportationAnimal Transport; Motorized VehiclesChapter 13. Mountain Biking the DesertChoosing the Right Bike; Choosing the Right Tires; Riding Sandy Terrain; Night Riding; Desert Trail Hazards; Water Supplies; Clothing and Sun Protection; Navigation; Emergency GearChapter 14. Wildlife Observation and Desert PhotographyChoosing an Observation Site; Optical Equipment: Binoculars, Monoculars, and Scopes; Nighttime Observation; Desert Flowers and Plant Life; The Desert CameraChapter 15. A Parting WordAppendix 1. Desert Questions and AnswersAppendix 2. GPS and the UTM Grid Location SystemAppendix 3. Other Distance Estimation MethodsAppendix 4. Vehicle Maintenance ChecklistAppendix 5. Metric Conversion ChartGlossaryBibliographyResourcesAcknowledgmentsIndex

About the Author

G. Mark Johnson is an attorney in private practice, a former deputy county attorney for Pima County, Arizona, and a writer on desert hiking, equipment, exploration, and survival who has published in Four-Wheeler Magazine, Desert Survivor, and other magazines. He has 18 years experience in desert hiking and exploration and has ranged all the North American deserts as well as those of North Africa. He lectures on desert hiking and survival, conducts seminars on these topics, and tests gear in the desert environment for the outdoor equipment manufacturers.HOMETOWN: Tucson, Arizona