There’s nothing unusual about hot weather in the desert in the summertime. Even without the current heat wave sweeping the western US, areas like and are always going to be scorching come July and August. Despite that meteorological reliability, however, people still want to don their and see the natural wonders of the , and .
No one can blame you for wanting to see these dazzling sights, and summer is often the most convenient time to travel, but it unfortunately often brings hiker deaths and heat-related illnesses. Just last week, we reported on and another three people died over the weekend in Canyonlands. These incidents are always tragic, but are often avoidable.
I live in Scotland these days, where we don’t have any desert or see many hot days, so you might think it laughable that I’m writing this, but for many years, the deserts of Utah were my stomping grounds and I've had many great adventures from Death Valley to Joshua Tree. I’ll recommend visiting these otherworldly landscapes to anyone who will listen, but it’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself from the intense heat in these areas during the summer months. In addition to practicing basic hiking safety, such as having a plan and , carrying a and understanding the signs of , the following are some important practices to help keep you safe in hot desert conditions this summer.
I know you don’t want to hear this (and the local tourism boards probably don’t want me to write it) but if you really want to hike in desert conditions, doing it outside of summer is the best choice. My best trips to places like were always in the spring and fall. Not only is the weather positively delightful, but there are far fewer crowds.
If your trip can wait, consider rescheduling it for the fall, winter or spring and head someplace like Isle Royale (recently named ) or in Maine which will be busy but not dangerously busy. If summer is your best bet for visiting these precious places and you want to get out on the trail, do it early. The official advice from National Parks like Death Valley is usually to avoid the times between 10 a.
m. and 6 p.m.
which is the majority of the day, but don't worry, all is not lost. In the middle of summer, the sun is up in scenic spots like by around 6 a.m.
and it starts getting light before that, so I used to set my alarm bright and early and be at the while it was still fairly dark. This means you can get a few hours of hiking in and be back to the car by 10 a.m.
as long as you don’t plan too long of a hike. Bring your if you’re getting started really early and leave yourself a margin for getting back to your car as it can be extremely hot by mid-morning. Evening hikes are also an option and areas with amazing rock formations and west-facing views can provide a great opportunity to enjoy the sunset, or if you stay out long enough.
It’s not as cool as in the morning because those rocks hold a lot of heat, but if you start at 6 p.m. it will be more tolerable and you can still get a couple of hours in.
Just don’t forget a light source. I’m not trying to undermine your intelligence here. I know that you know that is important when it’s hot out.
But even experienced hikers underestimate just how much more water they need in hot environments all the time. In the desert, if you run out of water, there isn’t a backup source. If you think bringing an extra will cut it for a three-hour hike, think again.
The official advice from Canyonlands National Park is to drink a liter of water per hour as well as consuming or salty snacks to replace salt lost through sweat. For hot conditions, I tend to use a large that carries at least three liters of water rather than lugging extra bottles, and I’ll bring several five-gallon jugs of water in my car for longer trips. Rather than drinking just straight water, I also mix in an electrolyte-loaded sports drink such as .
This means you have to afterward, but it could help you avoid and save your life. When it’s hot out, it’s tempting to want to throw on skimpy and a tank top but it’s actually better to cover your skin to avoid sunburn, which will only further dehydrate you, especially since shade is scant in the desert. The best approach to dressing for hiking in hot desert conditions is actually to wear loose, lightweight, light-colored and breathable layers such as long and a long-sleeved .
Since yo'ure not expecting wet and cold weather, you can even break the cardinal rule of hiking and wear as long as it's light and loose. Don’t forget to wear a wide-brimmed to keep the sun off your head and shoulders and apply sunscreen to any exposed skin. The good news is that you can wear instead of sweaty shoes so your feet will be happy.
.
