Surviving the Desert: Greg Davenport's Books for the Wilderness

Surviving the Desert by Greg Davenport is a very solid book on desert survival. While there are differences between deserts throughout the world this book provides a basic primer on surviving in this difficult environment. This book will not provide you with the nuances of surviving in each of the different desert environments so you will need to conduct further research. Surviving the Desert is broken down into 13 chapters as follows: Chapter 1: Introduction Three step approach to wilderness survival. Chapter 2: Desert Climates Types of deserts and how they form: high pressure deserts, rain shadow deserts, continental deserts, and cool coastal deserts. Chapter 3: Gear Basic overview of different types of gear to include: backpack, CamelBak, tent, bivouac, tarp, emergency blanket, sleeping bag, blankets, sleeping pad, knives, saw, stoves, headlamp and cooking pots. Good information. Chapter 4: Clothing Good information on clothing especially for the desert. In my experience many people just don't understand the proper clothes to wear that can really assist in a survival situation. This chapter covers: UV, SPF and UPF, heat gain and loss, what to wear, material, shirts and pants, parka and rain pants, boots, socks, gloves, headgear, eye protections, and skin protection. Chapter 5: Camping Basics of selecting an appropriate campsite and the old adage of location, location, location matters. Utilization of a tent or bivy, emergency tarp shelters, and natural shelters. Chapter 6: Fire Different methods of fire starting to include information on stoves, sterno and solid compressed fuel tablets. Also talks about matches, lighters, metal matches, flint and steel, and pyrotechnics. Discusses the use of primitive methods of fire starting to include bow and drill, hand drill and pump drill. Reviews fire basics of tinder, kindling and fuel. Chapter 7: Signaling Use of flares, smoke, signal mirror, strobe light, whistle, ground to air patterns and cell phones. Chapter 8: Water Davenport states that one should never drink urine, salt water or blood. Lists indications of water sources, water impurities and water purification. Chapter 9: Food Covers foods to take, plants, bugs, crustaceans, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals. Shows different traps and snares to catch food as well as food preparation and skinning. Chapter 10: Navigating Basics of map and compass. Chapter 11: Traveling in Hot Climates Basics of different traveling techniques and types of terrain. Chapter 12: Health Issues General health issues, traumatic injury, heat and cold injuries. Very basic information. Chapter 13: Desert Creatures Discussion on snake, lizard and animal bites. Overall, a very good book that I recommend.

Surviving the Desert looks at a survivor's five survival essentials and how they apply in a myriad of desert settings. This approach keeps the reader focused on what his/her needs are and promotes a survivor mind for all the various desert terrains one might enjoy. And that is the key -- learning to use your survival mind. Since all situations are different, you will never find a book on survival that gives a step by step approach to returning alive. Finding a book that teaches you how to use your survival mind, however, is like finding gold. This is what sets Davenport's books above the others (books that teach desert travel but don't develop a readers survival mind). Davenport's 'Surviving the desert' is a gold nugget. If you travel into the desert (or in any outdoor environment) isn't it time you learn to use that survival mind!