The Ultimate Desert Handbook: A Manual for Desert Hikers, Campers and Travelers

The Ultimate Desert Handbook is the best book on desert hiking and survival I have found, and I have read them all. That's not just my opinion, but also that of all my friends who like to backpack and hike in the desert. Unlike other books that claim to cover the subject of desert hiking and survival, this one actually does so. Water, acclimatizing the body, clothing and equipment, navigation, backpacks and gear, information on different deserts of the world - nothing is left out. Johnson's book is actually both well-written and very well organized, with the most important aspects, such as finding water, trip planning, etc. in the first chapters, progressing in order. The criticism of the book as somehow biased towards vehicle travel is completely off-base, and makes me wonder how carefully the critic read the material. It has a single solitary chapter on desert vehicles and preparing them for desert conditions (makes sense, because unlike other places, you may have to drive for miles through remote, waterless areas just to get to the trailhead!). In fact, the book is primarily oriented towards hikers and backpackers - probably 250 of the book's 296 pages are devoted to the subject - especially those preparing for treks in remote desert. The book actually covers a wide range of subjects - adapting to different desert conditions, trip planning, backpacking and camping gear, desert first aid, snakes and other hazards, and it has the best chapter on pathfinding and navigation (read: staying alive) in the desert I've found to date. As to gear and equipment, the author does take space to provide suggestions on advantages and disadvantages of many items, including the newer methods of water purification, ultralight equipment, GPS receivers, water storage, Camelbaks, and so on. But rather than the usual generic discussion, the information is nicely geared to desert hiking: in the case of drinking tube systems, right down to the need to insulate one's drinking tube and choose light-reflecting colors, a tip omitted by other books. I personally found all of this very useful information, and I can't see how it possible how learning something about one's gear for such a different environment as a desert could be either impractical or frivolous. The author did probably assume the reader is intelligent enough to realize that you can't possibly bring everything along, and to make one's own choices regarding total pack weight. Suggestions are just that, not everyone will agree with them, but such is life. For myself, I'd certainly want to know the practical applications and limitations of various types of gear and clothing, especially as they apply to desert hiking. If you don't like it, you can skip the chapter - doh! I find it very strange that anyone could condemn a desert travel book with a single-star rating because it allegedly reviews 'too much' equipment, then criticize it yet again with the trivial complaint that the book left out the

As a long-distance desert backpacker and thru-hiker for the last 10 years, I was recommended this book by a friend. I read it cover to cover the first day. On our local ERT it is passed around and used on an almost daily basis, and our local desert park staff saw a copy and promptly got it stocked at the gift shop. In terms of getting prepared for a desert hike, avoiding the dangers of getting lost, dehydration and snakebite it's a very informative and useful guide. I use a 4WD truck to get to desert areas and remote trailheads I plan to hike, and those people who enjoy fourwheeling will also find it helpful in preparing their vehicle for long trips. Johnson covers a lot of ground in this book, from backpacks to wild critters to first aid, even mountain biking. Because it covers so many desert activities and so many deserts, I'm sure that anyone could pick and choose advice they don't agree with. That doesn't mean it's wrong - just that the critic doesn't have enough experience. One guy didn't appreciate criticism of old canvas backpacks, well I can tell you that they may work for dayhikes, but no one I've ever seen backpacking the desert puts up with their weight or sweat-stink for more than a few miles. The advice on avoiding smugglers and other unfriendly types in the desert is far from hysterical, it's right on - speaking from someone who's had to talk their way out of a few unpleasant late-night encounters. And lightweight boots with good soles may not be enjoyable to a retired couple on a two-hour walk, but with a heavy backpack and 20 miles a day they're just the ticket, especially over broken rock. I also use the recommended green flashlight at night to preserve my night vision, just like military helo pilots do. And, you DO need to keep your attention to what's in front of you on night hikes - unless you like to step on rattlesnakes. For anyone who really wants to do serious desert tripping or learn about the desert environment, this is the book to have. I'm not giving away my copy.

Like the majority of the other reviewers, I personally found this book to be a superior and well-written guide on the subject of desert travel and exploration in all sorts of deserts and using various means of transport. Far from being a limited book on the subject of survival in a single desert like the Mojave or Saharan deserts, the Ultimate Desert Handbook is one of the few desert books I've found that provides individualized information on deserts of the world and their differing requirements - climates, geological construction, and specific hazards. This includes recognizing and avoiding venomous and biting reptiles and insects, heat and exposure dangers, navigation (including map, compass and GPS), clothing, equipment, water supply, rescue techniques, and first-aid and survival chapters that cover everything from poisonous lizards of Mexico to water-bearing plants in the Namib. It even contains valuable information on desert acclimatization and vehicle preparation, something the average hiking guide doesn't even address. For instance, I found the section on safety in the desert most enlightening, and very on point, having been abandoned by unscrupulous guides in the Sahara a few years ago. Once I blithely motored across an unmarked minefield. Nice to know about those kinds of hazards before one's trip. There isn't anything close to the universality of this book. I recently contacted an American colleague whose desert emergency rescue team utilized this book in their training. And the Royal Geographic Society's prestigious desert exploration section must think it a very good book as well, as it's on their recommended reading list!

I am a hiker, so I looked at the book from a hiking perspective and found it excellent. It is by far the best hiking book I've seen that specifically addresses the unique rigors of being in the heat for lengthy periods. Johnson has a nice little ranking system for each journey, from ranges from one star for easy treks and 4 stars for the strenuous ones. I do think his ranking system is just a trifle soft. Some of the hikes that get 4 stars aren't really that difficult, nor do they have exceptional elevation gains. But this is a minor criticism.The bext part of the book is the descriptions of how brutal heat can wither the human body. Johnson gives helpful tips on how to protect your skin, face and eyes from the ravaging effects of the sun. I once hiked 24 miles Rim to Rim in one day in the Grand Canyon without sun glasses and can attest how vicious an experience that was on the eyes. He also stresses that you'll need a minimum of one gallon of water, per person, per hour when you're in 100+ degree temperatures. Many scoff and say, "That is too much water!" Believe me, it isn't.All in all, a good book and one which every desert hiker or desert fan should own.

This is the only book you will ever need for desert survival in any desert around the globe. It covers introductions to the world's deserts, with emphasis on North American deserts. The book covers general skills pertaining to desert survival (Water, shelter, food, navigation etc.) and also has sections on desert hiking, biking and photography that were good for the novice and refresher for the expert. The chapter on desert transportation was excellent and a subject often over looked in similar titles. Over all I found the book to be quite good for the novice hiker to experienced desert dwellers like extreme adventures and military types.