Desert Hiking - Off Trail Hiking

Cross-country hiking demands knowledge of the character of the landscape you're hiking. For example, ridges are usually the best routes of travel because brush chokes drainages. The best way to gain this type of knowledge is through experience in the area.

Many desert wildernesses have no trails at all. In this case, hike some of the trails in a similar area before graduating to trackless areas.

Game trails, especially those made by wild burros and horses, can make travel a lot easier if the trail goes in the direction you want to travel.

Obstacles such as steep, rocky slopes or cliffs, areas of heavy brush, and deep canyons usually make it impossible to follow a straight line. In desert canyon or mountain country, the classic orienteering technique of following a compass bearing (or a GPS course) directly to your destination rarely works.

Pick a distant, unmistakable landmark near your destination.

Then, as you deviate around obstacles, use the landmark to maintain your general direction of travel. A GPS receiver can be used the same way.

As you hike, look back often to keep track of your return route. Landmarks change shape and appearance as you move and as the lighting changes during the day.

A small pair of binoculars or a monocular can be very useful for route-finding, because they allow you to check out terrain from a distance before you're committed to a route.