Shelter

SHELTER: Believe it or not, Shelter, not Water, is next on the list.  The average person can last for up to 2 days without water, 14 days without food and up to a month without Baywatch.  But hypothermia (super-cooling of the body) and Heat Stroke (super-heating of the body) can kill you in a matter of hours without some sort of shelter.  Hypothermia is the leading killer of outdoor recreationists.

• Establish your shelter early in the day, if possible.  You never know what weather situation may arise.  For example, set your tent up early and use it as a base camp for day and evening explorations.  Anchor and tie the tent fast to the ground to resist the power of the desert winds.
• You could set up your shelter on a small rise, where the temperature can be as much as 10 degrees warmer at night.
• Natural shelters can sometimes be found under a rock overhang or in or near a grove of trees or shrubs.
• Your maps may help in locating other natural rock formations which may provide protection from the sun and wind.
• Never camp in or near a desert wash because of the potential for deadly flash floods.
• Never camp on the top of a large hill or mountain because of the danger from lightning and extreme winds.

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