Desert Survival Skills

by David Alloway

Remote desert locations, including the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico, southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, draw adventurers of all kinds, from the highly skilled and well prepared to urban cowboys who couldn't lead themselves (much less a horse!) to water. David Alloway's goal in this book is to help all of them survive when circumstances beyond their control strand them in the desert environment. In simple, friendly language, enlivened with humor and stories from his own extensive experience, Alloway here offers a practical, comprehensive handbook for both short-term and long-term survival in the Chihuahuan and other North American deserts.

Genres: Survival, Nonfiction, Outdoors

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Berry Muhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a shame Alloway is no longer with us. I'd love to hear more of his witty (but tragic) anecdotes about survival and / or failure to survive in the wilderness.

He knows (or rather knew) his stuff, being a teacher on the subject to many tourists and quite a few military personnel. This is one book I'll be carrying with me on my next southwestern vacation.

I found it synergized neatly with some of the other books I've read recently, including the flintknapping and geology books. I guess I'll be carrying all three (at least) on my next southwestern vacation.

If you plan to spend any time at all in the desert, consider this essential reading. Don't just read it through once; read it through and then keep it packed with your gear, and follow its advice for putting together survival packs to also include in your gear.

[bibliotekker Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excellent book has the imprimatur of the University of Texas Press, a sign that it carries some authority on the subject. Desert survival is extreme survival and the skills in this book will be useful to people from not only established deserts, but semi-arid climates and those tending toward the extremes of dry in an era of volatile climate. A good read that will give you a dose of useful knowledge.

[Zora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that prioritizes what to do when you're lost in the desert and leaves you no doubt about the priorities: get water, then fire, then get yourself found. Everything else can wait. While the specifics of plants to eat, to use for cordage, and to use as medicine are mostly specific to the Chihuahua Desert, as those aims are not in the top three priorities, it doesn't make it less worthy a book. It is still useful to anyone who regularly hikes in any desert, as I do, or who plans a holiday trip there for hiking, or who routinely flies small planes over deserts. He also has smart things to say about pocket-sized survival kits that would apply to wilderness survival in most other climates. He further makes clear that using something like a drill to start fire or using a sling to bring down small game takes a lot of regular practice and the time to start practicing is not the day you get lost. I learned a good deal, and I'll go back through it and take notes and adapt my backpack survival kit to match his recommendations.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skipped around and only read the chapters that applied to my situation (I really don't think I need to learn what I need to pack in my non-existent Cessna). This provided a lot of great, clear advice on desert survival preparation. I'm determined to get a signal mirror and some other items to pack with me whenever I go hiking in the Big Bend.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. The plants mentioned are native Chihuahuan plants but many are native to the Sonoran Desert as well. I didn't know you could use parts of your car for so many things if you find yourself stranded in the desert!

[Christopher Duemmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anyone considering a trek into any desert environment. It is directed more towards the deserts of North America, but the applications are applicable elsewhere.