Desert Hiking - Sleeping and Shelter

TENTS AND TARPS

Many desert backpackers prefer to sleep under the stars when they can. In the dry, clear desert air, the horizon-to-horizon blaze of stars is an unforgettable sight. Still, deserts do have periods of rainy, snowy, or cold and windy weather, making shelter necessary.

Sleeping on the ground is not advisable during the warmer months. In hot weather, most desert creatures, including snakes and insects, are nocturnal, and a floored and completely zippered tent is comforting. As for use anywhere, sound construction and high quality is important. However, a heavy four-season tent is overkill in the desert.

A net tent, in which all or part of the canopy is fine no-see- um netting, is often the ideal desert shelter. A conventional waterproof fly covers the net canopy in the event of bad weather but can be left off (but not left behind!) during most desert nights.

Avoid the weight and expense of a tent by carrying a nylon tarp with a separate groundsheet. A tarp provides good weather protection if set up properly and is versatile enough to use as a sunshade or windbreak during lunch stops. Remember that a tarp provides no protection from mosquitoes and other insects. Using a tarp effectively does take some practice. Consider that you may have no trees with which to set up your tarp.

A walking stick can double as a tarp pole. Alternatively, you may be able to use large boulders as supports.

Another tent alternative, especially for solo hikers, is the bivouac sack, an outer layer of waterproof and breathable fabric that covers your sleeping bag and head. Designs range from simple sleeping bag covers with a bit of netting over the opening to one-person tents. Their weights are similar to that of tarps. Bivy sacks are more secure in bad weather than tarps but not nearly as spacious.

The midday desert sun quickly rots nylon tents and tarps. If you have to leave your shelter up all day, try to place it in the shade. Otherwise, take it down for the day and put it back up in the evening. The low-angle sun at morning and evening will do little damage to nylon.

SLEEPING BAGS

A three-season bag (+10 degrees F) is good for most desert hiking. In summer, you can save weight by carrying a lighter bag.

Down is a practical insulator for desert sleeping bags, because sustained wet weather is rare. High-quality down fill, though expensive, is still unsurpassed in insulating capability for its weight. Since it is more durable, down is actually less expensive than synthetics over the lifetime of the bag. Synthetic fills have the advantages of lower initial cost and of retaining most of their insulating ability when soaking wet. I recommend synthetic bags for trips during the wet season (winter to early spring) when it may be difficult to stay dry. Otherwise, down.

SLEEPING PADS

The best type of sleeping pad is a self-inflating foam-filled air mattress. These are less prone to puncture, warmer, and at least as comfortable as traditional air mattresses. Regular foam pads are a cheap alternative. They insulate very well and don't puncture, but are not as comfortable as self-inflating models.

Check for spines and thorns before laying out your mattress, and always use a ground sheet or a tent floor under it.

Check for leaks in your self-inflating mattress before a trip. Squeeze all of the air out by rolling it up as tightly as possible, close the valve securely, and let it sit overnight. If it unrolls, air leaked in, which means it has pinhole leaks.

The hardest part of repairing tiny cactus spine punctures in a self-inflating mattress (the kind of holes that take half the night to let you down) is finding them. Blow up the pad as hard as you can, then sit on it in still water or in a bathtub. Look for tiny streams of bubbles, and mark all the leaks with a pencil. Dry the pad, and then repair the holes with the cement recommended by the manufacturer. I find that a good, flexible contact cement also works well. This tip is best for home, but I have done it in the field!