Tutorial: Gear and Skills for Desert Backpacking

Yesterday, Andrew and I hosted a livestream focused on the foundations of backpacking in the desert.

Topics we discussed included:

Leave No Trace in the desertTrip planning: seasonality and daily flowHazardsWater: how much to carry, how to find it, carrying capacity, favorite bottles, treatment, electrolytesFootwear: ideal characteristics, favorite modelsClothing: tops, bottoms, accessoriesCamp selection: best and worst desert campsDry campingBest shelters for the desertPitching shelters on slickrock and sandGear care and special gearDesert navigation

In terms of the desert experience we’re drawing upon, here are the highlights:

Andrew

backpacked 800 miles across the Colorado Plateau from Arches to Grand Canyon NPs in 2009hiked from the Grand Canyon to the PCT across southern California, including a 70-mile waterless stretch without a cachebackpacked through southern California on the PCT in June

Katie

backpacked the length of the Grand Canyon from Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Ferryhiked an 800-mile loop in the Great Basin of Nevadahas completed the PCT and CDT desert sections as well as the Oregon Desert TrailWatch the event:

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