Desert Hiking - Vehicle Use in the Desert

VEHICLE PREPARATION

Consider traveling with more than one vehicle in case one breaks down. Approaches do not always require two vehicles, but there is a significant difference between a maintained five-mile approach road driven in cool weather and a hundred-mile unmaintained road driven in hot weather. A vehicle breakdown on the former is inconvenient; on the latter, deadly.

Keep your vehicle reliable by practicing preventive maintenance. Fifty miles from the nearest service station is no place to have an old fan belt break. Before leaving home, check coolant, oil levels, and tire pressure and overall condition. Don't forget to check your spare tire. Some desert drivers carry a can or two of tire repair/inflator. It can save the day if you experience a puncture.

Keep a set of basic tools, including a sturdy shovel, in your car and learn how to use them. In sandy areas, consider carrying sand mats made from old pieces of carpet.

VEHICLE SUPPLIES

• spare tire
• a few cans of emergency tire inflator
• lug wrench
• jack
• jumper ca
• bles
• extra oil
• extra drinking/radiator water
• food
• change of clothes for return
• sand mats
• shovel
• tow chain
• spare parts as appropriate

Carry a tow chain or cable. Sometimes another car comes by, but don't depend on the driver to have a tow chain. I prefer to carry an old climbing rope or a length of climber's nylon webbing, because they're easier to attach and more versatile.

Carry extra water and food in your car in case you are stuck or stranded. Think in terms of being able to survive for several days, until searchers find you.

When leaving the last outpost of civilization for desert back roads, fill up your fuel tank. Driving on sandy or rocky roads and using four-wheel drive uses more fuel than highway or city driving.

DRIVING DESERT ROADS

Review the approach ahead of time. In some desert areas, new roads are commonly made by vehicles driving cross-country. Also, consider that road signs may be missing.

Road maintenance is infrequent on desert dirt roads.

Washouts, potholes, deep sand, ruts, and other obstacles can appear suddenly, so watch your speed on otherwise smooth, maintained roads.

Deep sand is a hazard on some approach roads; a four-wheel-drive vehicle may be necessary.

Low-clearance vehicles should stick to well-maintained roads. Check your guidebook and ask land managers before relying on a car meant for the highway.

Stay on the established roadway, whether its a maintained road or a jeep trail. Vehicle tracks easily scar desert land; the evidence from irresponsible off-highway vehicle use, four-wheeling, and desert-vehicle racing will be visible for many years.

Respect all road closures and signs.

If you have to turn around on a desert road, remember that the shoulders may be very soft. Turn around by remaining on the traveled or maintained surface.

If you're in doubt about a bad section of road, especially if there's a dropoff, check it out on foot. Don't hesitate to do a little rock moving and roadwork if needed. Driving slowly also allows you to stop and, most of the time, back out if you start to lose traction.

If you become stuck and can't move with gentle application of power, stop. Don't try to power out—you'll just power yourself into a pit.

GETTING "UN-STUCK"

1. If you have four-wheel drive and get stuck while in two-wheel drive, shift into four-wheel drive and gently try to move out.

2. If that fails, get out and survey the situation.

3. If you're traveling with another vehicle, the quickest way to get out is to have them tow you. If that's not practical, or if yours is the only vehicle, then you'll have a bit more work to do.

4. If the wheels sink into soft sand but the vehicle is not high centered, you may be able to get out by digging the sand away from the tires so you can move with little power. Sand mats will help maintain traction (see illustration below). Rubber floor mats can also be used for this purpose. If you're high-centered, then jack up the wheels one at a time, fill in the hole, and lay down your sand mats or other firm material (small tree or bush branches work well) under the tire and to the rear. Once all is ready, carefully ease back onto firm ground.

WEATHER HAZARDS

Don't cross flooded washes. The roadbed may be eroded away and the water is probably much deeper and swifter than it appears.

Don't park in a dry wash or streambed, especially during the late summer thunderstorm season. A distant storm may cause the wash to flash flood without warning.

Consider that washes crossed on the way to the trailhead might be flooding and impassable on the way out.

Flooding from summer thunderstorms usually subsides in a few hours. On the other hand, flooding can be prolonged for days if caused by heavy winter or spring rain, especially if melting snow in the high country adds to the runoff.

In some desert areas, severe sandstorms can occur that may suddenly reduce visibility to zero. These are more of a hazard on freeways and highways than on back roads. If you encounter suddenly reduced visibility, drive completely clear of the roadway, and turn off all lights. Many accidents occur when panicked drivers stop suddenly in the traffic lane. If you leave your lights on, even if you're clear of the road, other drivers may see your lights and steer toward them, thinking you're on the road. In addition, wind-driven sand can seriously damage windshield glass and body paint. You can minimize this damage by stopping until the wind abates.