SURVIVING IN THE DESERT
Intense heat, lack of water and an apparent absence of food are only some of the problems you will face in the desert – but don’t despair: with proper guidance you will be able to survive easily and get back to civilisation.
Deserts occupy around 20 per cent of the earth’s land surface. However, the idea that they are all composed of sand is a misconception. There are in fact six types of desert: alkali, sand, rock, rocky plateau and mountain.
THE WORLD’S DESERTS
There are eight main desert areas in the world, each having its own set of distinct characteristics.
Sahara Desert Situated in North Africa, it has little vegetation and is characterised by loose, shifting sand. It has areas of sandstone, limestone and volcanic rock, salt marshes, canyons and marshes. It is swept by hot, dry winds that cause major sandstorms. The nights are bitterly cold during the winter months, often requiring the wearing of overcoats and blankets.
Arabian Desert Extends over 1,600,000 sq km (1,000,000 square miles) in the Middle East. It is the desert that can come close to being a complete wasteland: continuous, drifting dunes and almost no vegetation.
Persian Desert Extends from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea. Its climate is very severe: the wind blows constantly from the north during the ‘wind of 100 days’ during the summer, with speeds of up to 120km/hr (75mph).
Gobi Desert Situated in China, it is a huge, waterless area of some 960,000 square kilometres (600,000 square miles) surrounded by high mountain barriers that prevent rainfall. Almost treeless, the Gobi is covered with wiry tufted grass.
Atacama Desert Situated in South America and covering areas of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, this desert is characterised by an almost total absence of rainfall. It is completely barren and desolate, but is inhabited because it contains valuable mining deposits.
The Great Basin Situated in the United States, in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Colorado, California and northern Mexico, its terrain is rocky and contains ravines, canyons and escarpments. The vegetation consists of cactus and sage brush.
Kalahari Desert Located in the South African highlands, it consists of extensive areas of red sand and flats. A lot of the Kalahari is covered by a heavy growth of scrub trees.
Australian deserts The deserts of the Australian ‘outback’ are more or less uninhabited (apart from the Aborigines). They are characterised by erratic rainfall, cyclones and storms. Mostly flat, these areas contain only scrub growth.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TERRAIN
Though there are different types of desert areas, they all share common physical characteristics. It is important that you know what they are so you can prepare your survival plan.
Lack of water Deserts are characterised by an absence of water, which is why their human populations are low. Annual rainfall can be zero to 25cm (10in), but whatever rainfall there is is completely unpredictable. As a result, flash flooding (where normally dry stream beds are filled with quick-moving flows of water) is very common.
CANADIAN AIR FORCE TIPS:
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR THE SURVIVOR IN THE DESERT
Deserts are harsh environments – your immediate actions in the aftermath of a crash or being stranded are crucial. Follow Canadian Air Force guidelines:
Lack of vegetation Vegetation is generally scarce, and what plant life there is will be specially adapted to withstand the severity of desert conditions. The types present are an indication of the depth of the water table. Thus palm trees indicate water within 0.6-0.9m (2-3ft) of the surface; cottonwood and willow trees suggest it may be found 3-3.6m (10-12ft) from the surface. Note: the common sage, greasewood and cactus have no bearing on the water level and are thus useless as indicators of the level of the water table.
Temperature extremes Desert temperatures vary according to latitude. For example, the Gobi Desert experiences temperatures of -10 degrees C (-50 degrees F) in the winter. On the other hand, the Sahara Desert has recorded temperatures of up to 58 degrees C (136 degrees F). Because of the unobstructed, direct effect of the sun’s rays during the day, temperatures are high, but at night they fall rapidly, especially on elevated plateaus, as the surface cools quickly under the clear night skies.
Bright sunshine and moonlight Because of the low cloud density, the days are abnormally bright and the nights crystal clear.
Dust storms Winds in the desert can reach hurricane force, throwing up dense clouds of dust and sand. As well as being extremely uncomfortable physically, visibility is reduced to almost zero.
Mirages The result of light refraction through heated air rising from very hot sandy or stone surfaces. They usually occur when you are looking towards the sun, and tend to distort the shape of objects, especially vertically. You may ‘see’ hills, mountains and lakes during your journey that are actually mirages.
Other desert terrain characteristics include hillocks, wadis (dry river beds and valleys) and oases.
Man-made features All deserts contain at least some man-made features. As a survivor, you should look out for them: they may lead to civilisation (though the distances may be great). In particular, watch out for the following:
ROADS AND TRAILS: most road systems have existed for centuries to connect centres of commerce or important religious shrines. In addition, there are often rudimentary trails for caravans and nomadic tribesmen, and these often have wells or oases every 32km (20 miles) or 64km (40 miles), though in some areas there may be over 160km (100 miles) between watering places.
BUILDINGS: in the desert, most structures for human habitation are thick-walled and have small windows. The ruins of earlier civilisations litter deserts – they can be used as temporary shelters on your journey.
PIPELINES: they can lead you to rescue, and as they are often elevated above the desert floor, they can be seen from a long way away.
AGRICULTURAL AND IRRIGATION CANALS: can lead you to people.
SAND DUNES
It is less taxing to walk on the windward side of the tops of sand dunes than walking up and down them in an effort to stay on a straight course.
MOVEMENT
Travelling in the desert can be extremely hazardous. As a survivor you must consider the effect the environmental factors, your condition and the amount of food and water required will have on travel. DO NOT underestimate the climate or the terrain. In daytime, the scorching heat will make movement impracticable. However, if you are travelling at night in rocky or mountainous deserts you may not see eroded drainages and canyons, which could result in you falling and sustaining serious injury.
Navigation At night use the stars and the moon to navigate by (see Signalling and Navigation Chapter). During the day you can use a compass or landmarks. However, be aware that in the desert, because of the glare and lack of landmarks, distances are difficult to estimate and objects difficult to size. Survivors should try to follow animal trails and hope they lead to rivers or watering holes. The wind can be used as a direction indicator: orientate yourself to any prevailing winds once you have established they are consistent and you know in what direction they are blowing.
Sandstorms can totally disorientate you. When the storm is over all the landmarks you were using may be obliterated or indistinguishable. You must mark your route before a storm so you can pick up the trail afterwards. Placing a stick to indicate direction will suffice.
Mirages can play havoc with your navigation. Be especially alert for mirages concealing objects, creating imaginary objects and making red objects seem closer and larger. Remember, mirages are common during the heat of the day.
US MARINE CORPS TIPS:
DESERT TRAVEL RULES
Travelling during the day in the desert can be a killer. US Marine Corps regulations are strict concerning movement in desert regions.
Clothing is extremely important in desert areas. You must have protection against sunburn, heat, sand and insects. DO NOT discard any clothing. Keep your head, legs and body covered at all times. Do not roll up your sleeves: keep them rolled down and loose at the cuffs to stay cool. Light-coloured flowing robes reduce high humidity between the body and the clothing; which helps to keep you cool and limits perspiration. White clothing also also has the advantage of reflecting the sunlight.
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION:
RULES FOR DESERT CLOTHING
The French Foreign Legion has over 100 years experience of desert fighting. Its men have learned the hard way how to dress for the desert.
Eye protection Wear sunglasses or goggles if you have them. If not, improvise a pair of sun shades, from material or bark. Make the eye slits narrow. Reduce glare reflected from the skin by smearing soot from a fire below the eyes. DO NOT neglect eye protection. Sand and grit can blow into the eyes and cause injury.
FINDING WATER AND FOOD
It is vital you find water in the desert: without it you will die quickly. Without water you will last two and a half days at a temperature of 48 degrees C (120 degrees F) if you just rest in the shade, and up to 12 days if the temperature stays below 21 degrees C (70 degrees F). In a temperature of 48 degrees C (120 degrees F), you will be able to walk 8km (5 miles) without water before collapsing.
Relative to water, food is less important in the desert. Heat produces a loss of appetite. Do not force yourself to eat. As liquids are needed for digestion, try to eat moisture-containing foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, to maintain your body’s water level.
Remember that food, especially meat, spoils very quickly in the heat of the desert. Be particularly alert for flies, which seemingly appear out of nowhere to settle on your uncovered food.
WATER
There are three things about water routes that you should bear in mind:
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION :
CONSERVING WATER
Water is the most precious commodity in the desert. French Foreign Legionnaires thus implement the following measures to reduce body fluid loss.
Water in the desert may be underground. Find a dry lake bed at it lowest part and dig into the ground with a spade, stick or rock. If you strike wet sand at once stop digging and allow the water to seep in. In dry river beds, find a bend and dig down on its lower side. If you don’t have immediate success, stop digging and find another spot: conserve your energy.
Observe the terrain closely: the likeliest place to find water will be at the base of a hill or canyon. Greenery on canyon walls is an indicator of a seep in the rocks. Also look for vegetation, especially reeds, grass, willows, cottonwoods and palm trees: they usually mark permanent water sources.
Desert plants can be valuable water sources in themselves. Peel off the tough outer bark of a cactus and chew on the liquid-filled inner tissue. The leaf stems of other desert plants, such as pigweed, contain water. Pigweed has fleshy reddish-green leaves and stems. In season it has yellow flowers and covers the ground in patches.
As well as finding water sources you can also make your own using stills and vegetation bags (see Water Chapter).
Remember to purify all water before you drink it (see Water Chapter), although any water obtained from plants, trees, shrubs, dew rain or snow will not need purifying.
FOOD
DO NOT EAT UNLESS YOU HAVE WATER. The US Air Force has a rule: if you can only get 0.5litres (one pint) of water a day you should not eat at all. You should not eat foods that contain proteins – which require water for digestion – unless you have sufficient supplies of water.
Plant food Availability of plant food varies according to geographical area. Date palms are found in most deserts and are cultivated by native peoples around oases and irrigation ditches. Fig trees (straggly trees with leathery evergreen leaves) are found in the deserts of Syria and Europe. Eat the fruits when they are ripe: when they are coloured green, red or black.
Learn to identify the following types of edible plants in the desert:
CAROB Appearance: has shiny, evergreen leaves that are paired in groups of two or three to a stem.
Edible parts: Its small red flowers produce leathery seed pods that contain a sweet, nutritious pulp which can be eaten raw. In addition, the hard brown seeds can be ground and cooked as porridge.
ACACIAS Appearance: thorny, medium-seized trees with very small leaflets. Their white, pink or yellow flowers form small globular flower heads.
Edible parts: use the roots for water; the seeds can be roasted and the young leaves and shoots boiled.
BAOBABS Appearance: large trees with huge, heavily swollen trunks. These trunks can be up to 9m (30ft) in diameter.
Edible parts: cut into the roots for water, the fruits and seeds can be eaten raw. The tender young leaves should be boiled.
DATE PALMS Appearance: tall, slender palms crowned with a tuft of leaves up to 4.8m (16ft) long
Edible parts: the fruits and growing tip of the palm can be eaten raw; the sap from the trunk is rich in sugar and can be boiled down.
MESCALS Appearance: thick, leathery, spiky leaves, from which spring a very long flower stalk.
Edible parts: the stalk is edible when cooked.
WILD GOURDS: the plant resembles a vine, with orange-sized fruits.
Edible parts: you can boil the unripe fruit to make it more edible. Cook young leaves, roast the seeds and chew the stems and shoots for their water.
CARRION FLOWERS Appearance: large plants with succulent stems that branch off into leaves like fat spines. They have star-shaped flowers covered in thick, shaggy hairs. The flowers give off a stench of rotting meat, hence their name.
Edible parts: you can tap the stems for water.
PRICKLY PEARS Appearance: have thick, pad-like leaves, yellow or red flowers and egg-shaped pulpy fruits.
Edible parts: the peeled fruits can be eaten raw, the pads must be cooked (cut away the spines). Roast the seeds for flour and tap the stems for water.
All desert grasses are edible. The best part is the whitish tender end that shows when the grass stalk is pulled from the ground; you can also eat grass seeds. FLOWERS THAT HAVE MILKY OR COLOURED SAP ARE POISONOUS.
Animal Food All desert animals – mammals, birds, reptiles and insects – are edible. You may have to lay traps for the larger animals and birds (see Food Chapter). However, keep a watch for owls, hawks, vultures and wolves, which often congregate around freshly killed animals. Chase them away and take the meat for yourself. If you are desperate, set a fire in heavy grass or sagebrush: after it has gone out you can look around for cooked rabbit or rat.
Rabbits and birds can be trapped, but rabbits can be smoked out of their holes by building a fire at the entrance. Be ready to club them when they come out. Snakes make a tasty meal, but remember they may be poisonous. You will often find them sunning themselves on rocks and ledges when the sun isn’t too hot (when the sun is at its height they will stay in shaded areas). They are most active during the early morning or early evening.
US SPECIAL FORCES TIPS:
EATING AND COLLECTING DESERT INSECTS
The US Green Berets know that insects are a valuable food source. Follow these guidelines and supplement your diet.
Lizards can also be eaten. Look out for them under flat stones at dawn, before the sun has warmed the air, and kill them by throwing stones at them or using a catapult (see Improvising Tools and Weapons Chapter).
Most people don’t like the thought of eating insects, but they can make a tasty meal. However, avoid caterpillars as a few species are poisonous, and stay clear of centipedes and scorpions.
Desert cooking With a little imagination you can use the materials to hand and turn your raw meat into a tasty meal. Use the following cooking methods:
BOILING: make a boiling pot by scooping a hole in hard ground, lining it with leaves or other waterproof material, filling it with water, and then dropping red-hot coals from the fire into it. In mountainous deserts, you can find rocks with holes in them made by erosion. You can use them as boiling pots: preheat them on the fire before filling them with water. Large plant leaves can be bent into containers to hold water (they will not burn if held over a flame as long as you keep them filled with water). Barrel cacti can also be used as containers: mash the pulp inside them, scoop it out and use the shells for cooking.
FRYING PANS: they can be created from desert rocks. Find a flat and narrow rock, prop it up with other rocks and build a fire underneath it (make sure you wipe off all the grit and dirt before you heat it). The rock will heat up, allowing you to fry meat or eggs (raid birds’ nests to get them) on it.
ROASTING: ensure you have a good bed of glowing coals, then place your meat on a green stick and hold it near the embers.
KEBABS: prepare a bed of hot, glowing embers. Cut your meat into even cubes and spear each one with a stick that has a sharpened end. Roast each meat cube evenly over the hot coals (make sure they do not slip off the sticks).
MUD BAKING: this is an excellent way of cooking small animals. Clean the carcass by removing the head, feet and tail. Leave the skin or feathers on the animal. Cover the carcass completely with mud or clay at least 2.5cm (1in) thick, place in a large fire and cover with coals. The animal may take up to an hour to cook, depending on its size. When the clay is hard and brick-like, remove it from the fire and break open the covering. When you do this the feathers or skin will break away at the same time, leaving a ready meal.
BAKING IN ASHES: a good method to cook an animal that will have its skin removed after cooking. Rake some ashes and embers to one side, place the food on top of the coals and then cover with the remaining coals.
GRILLING: dig a hole larger and wider than the animal to be cooked, approximately 0.3-0.9m (1-3ft) deep. Build a fire at the bottom of it and wait until it is hot. Then spread green poles over the top of the hole and place the meat on top of them. You can put small stones in the fire to radiate the heat.
EARTH OVEN: this method of cooking is used in the South Seas. Dig a hole 0.6m (2ft) wide and 0.6m (2ft) deep. Gather some wood and make a criss-cross pattern over the hole, laying one layer of sticks in one direction and one layer in another. Then lay a number of medium-sized stones on top of the sticks. Start a fire in the hole and let it burn until the stones turn white and fall into the hole. Arrange the stones in the hole and shovel out any pieces of burning wood, then cover the stones with a lot of green leaves that have been moistened with water and throw the food to be cooked on top. Cover the food with another batch of leaves and then cover the hole with earth to ensure no steam escapes. After about two hours the food will be cooked. This is an excellent method of cooking but requires speed when you are arranging the stones to ensure they do not cool.
DANGERS
The main threats to you in the desert will be the heat and dangerous animals and plants that can injure or poison you. However, with a little care you can cope with all these things.
Dangerous plants Most desert plants are protected by sharp thorns or spines. The spines have tiny hooks on them that will stick to your skin or clothing if you touch them. Give them a wide berth. Poison oak and poison ivy can cause intense skin irritations (see poisonous plants in Food Chapter). Wash skin thoroughly after exposure.
Insects Avoid ant nests (they can be identified as protruding mounds of soil). If you are bitten, a mud pack will soothe the rash and reduce the pain. Centipedes should also be avoided: their bites can be very painful and the effects can last up to two weeks. They hide under rocks during the day and move at night.
Scorpions stay under rocks during the day and move around at night, often into sleeping bags or boots. If you are camping use a tent with a sewn-in floor. Shake out your boots in the morning. There is no real field treatment for scorpion stings (the treatment for snake bites is ineffective – there is an immediate and overall reaction with scorpion stings). Fortunately, most adult victims of scorpion stings recover, though child fatalities are more common.
Spiders Spider bites cannot be treated effectively in the wild. You will just have to endure pain, nausea, dizziness and difficulty in breathing for a few days. It is far better to avoid spiders. Do not tease or try to capture them.
You may encounter the following spiders in desert regions:
BLACK WIDOW Appearance: small, dark and has a red, yellow or white marking on the abdomen.
Bite symptoms: severe pain, sweating, shivering and weakness. Can disable a victim for up to a week.
FIDDLEBACK Appearance: has a violin shape on the back of the head.
Bite symptoms: fever, chills, vomiting, joint pain and spotty skin. Tissue damage around the bite may lead to amputation in serious cases.
TARANTULA Appearance: large and hairy.
Bite symptoms: some pain, but the poison is fairly mild and not disabling.
Snakes Venomous snakes found in desert areas include the cobra, viper and rattlesnake. Your best protection against snake bites is to wear protective clothing – most bites are below the knee or on the hand or forearm. Do not put your hands into places you cannot see, do not try to catch a snake unless you are certain you can kill it, and always wear boots. Be careful where you tread. For treatment of snake bites see the First Aid Chapter.
Specific types of snake you may encounter in deserts include the following:
RUSSELL’S VIPER Appearance: tan or brownish-yellow coloured with spots ringed with black.
Size: 0.9-1.5m (3-5ft).
Temperament: bold, hisses loudly and strikes with great speed.
Distribution: west Pakistan, all of India, Thailand and southwest China.
SAND VIPER Appearance: yellow or pinkish colour.
Size: around 0.6m (2ft).
Temperament: because of their gliding gait, they can move across desert sands at great speed. Vicious if provoked.
Distribution: North Africa from Algeria to Egypt.
EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE Appearance: olive-green coloured with dark diamond-shaped markings with white or yellow edgings.
Size: 0.9-1.5m (3-5ft).
Temperament: bold, will defend itself by coiling, inflating its body with air and making a low hiss. In addition, its tail will usually vibrate.
Distribution: the eastern United States: North Carolina southward to Florida and west to Louisiana.
FER-DE-LANCE Appearance: usually brown or olive coloured, with faint hourglass markings along the back.
Size: 0.9-1.5m (3-5ft).
Temperament: it may coil its body before striking, but it can strike from any angle. Do not provoke.
Distribution: found throughout Central and South America.
WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE Appearance: light-brown coloured, with darker brown diamond-shaped markings. Its tail is cream to white and heavily marked with black rings.
Size: 0.9-1.5m (3-5ft).
Temperament: has a bold disposition, will readily defend itself.
Distribution: the United States, specifically Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, southeast California. Also found in northern Mexico.
MOJAVE RATTLESNAKE Appearance: green or olive coloured.
Size: 0.6-0.9m (2-3ft).
Temperament: can strike without a warning, often giving a rattle afterwards.
Distribution: Mojave Desert in California and the Mexican highlands.
DEATH ADDER Appearance: light-brown or reddish coloured with darker crossbands. The tail is yellow and short.
Size: 0.35-0.9m (1.5-3ft).
Temperament: bad tempered, will bite quickly with little provocation.
Distribution: throughout the Far East and also found in Australia.
EGYPTIAN COBRA Appearance: can be black, brown or yellow coloured. Has darker crossbands.
Size: 1.5-2.4m (5-8ft).
Temperament: aggressive.
Distribution: most of North Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.
SAW-SCALED VIPER Appearance: rough-scaled and ranges in colour from pale red to sandy-brown, with darker markings and white blotches.
Size: 0.4-0.55m (1.3-2ft).
Temperament: extremely vicious.
Distribution: North Africa and India.
AUSTRALIAN BROWN SNAKE Appearance: yellowish-grey to brown, with a pale belly.
Size: 1.5-2m (5-6ft).
Temperament: aggressive.
Distribution: Australia and New Guinea.
TIGER SNAKE Appearance: large-headed, thick-bodied, has greenish-yellow, grey or orange-brown bands.
Size: 1.3-1.6m (4-5.5ft).
Temperament: aggressive.
Distribution: Australia and Tasmania.
Lizards Both the gila monster and beaded lizard (both around 45cm (18in) long) are poisonous. The gila monster has a large rounded head, thick chunky body, short stumpy tail and is brightly patterned yellow. The beaded lizard is darker and larger with a slender tail. Both these creatures are docile and will run away from you. DO NOT tease or corner them, their bite is very poisonous. If bitten treat as for snake bite.
Animal bites Mammals can carry rabies. If you are bitten, immediately scrub the bite area with soap and water and apply disinfectant (if you have it). If a member of your party has rabies and is in the advanced stage, isolate him or her and tie him or her down. The person will unfortunately certainly die – do not touch the body after death.
Animals in the advanced stage of rabies, especially dogs, will be violent, will stagger and foam at the mouth. If you are the victim of an unprovoked attack, you have good reason to suspect that the animal has rabies. Hospital treatment for rabies must be started within one or two days to be effective.
Dehydration Be careful your body does not dehydrate. In very high temperatures and low humidity sweating may not be noticeable because it evaporates quickly. You must try to retain sweat on the skin to improve the cooling process – avoid direct sunlight on the skin. STAY CLOTHED. Remember, thirst is not always an adequate warning of dehydration. Keep up your fluid intake.
Heat injuries Result from a deficiency of salt or water during heavy sweating, apart from heatstroke, which results from a failure of the sweating mechanisms.
Heat cramps are caused by excessive loss of salt from the body when you have been sweating heavily. Cramps are painful spasms of the muscles, usually legs, arms and abdominals. They can be mild or severe. Treat by drinking large amounts of water.
Heat exhaustion is caused by excessive loss of water and salt from the body through sweating. The skin becomes cold and wet with sweat, with accompanying headache, dizziness, weakness and loss of appetite. Can be fatal if untreated. Place victim in the shade, massage and elevate legs to return blood to the heart. Give large quantities of water to drink.
US MARINE CORPS TIPS:
TREATMENT FOR ALL HEAT INJURIES
Desert heat injuries can be potentially fatal. You must administer treatment immediately. Follow these US Marine Corps guidelines:
Heatstroke occurs when the body loses its ability to cool itself by sweating. The skin becomes hot and dry. Victim may suddenly collapse or experience headache, dizziness or even delirium before becoming unconscious. Heatstroke is potentially fatal. Treatment is aimed at lowering the body temperature as quickly as possible. Place patient in shade, remove clothing and sprinkle body with water from head to foot. Fan to increase the cooling effect. Massage the legs and arms to stimulate circulation.
In the desert you are vulnerable to a host of insect-borne diseases, such as malaria, sandfly fever, typhus and plague. You must try to employ preventative medicine measures and adequate personal hygiene and sanitation. Guard against cuts and scratches: in the desert they can become infected very easily. To prevent intestinal diseases, clean all cooking and eating utensils, dispose of garbage and human wastes and protect food and utensils from flies.
Do not expose your flesh to the elements or to flies; try to wash your feet and body daily; and change your socks regularly. You must check yourself for signs of any injury, no matter how slight. Remember dust and insects can cause infection of minor cuts and scratches.
For sanitary reasons you must bury all garbage and human wastes, but remember you must bury them deep because shallow holes can become exposed in areas of shifting sands.
BUILDING SHELTERS
Shelter is extremely important in the desert, both to protect you from heat during the day and to keep you warm during the intense cold of the night. Try to copy the natives when it comes to shelters: light shelters that have the sides rolled up to take advantage of any breeze. You might not be able to build an exotic tent but you can make use of the same principles the locals employ.
US ARMY TIPS:
SIMPLE DESERT SHELTER
If you have a piece of canvas, a poncho or a parachute-like cloth, you can erect two simple desert shelters. As well as a mound or an outcrop of rock, you will need at least two sticks to support the extended end of the canvas.
Rock method
Mound method
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION:
BUILDING DESERT SHELTERS
Knowing when and where to build desert shelters can save you a lot of time and energy. Follow the advice of the French Foreign Legion.
Natural shelters Can be scarce in the desert, and limited to the shade of cliffs and the lee sides of hills, dunes or rock formations. Caves are a good shelter in rocky areas, but you will have to look carefully for them because they are small and easy to miss. Look out for crevasses or jutting ledges. Caves are cool and they may contain water. However, they can also contain animals: rats, mice, snakes and rabbits. Although these are all food sources and some individuals may be attracted to the idea of having a food store at their fingertips, sensible survivors will be aware of the dangers of bites and stings. Therefore, stay near the entrance.
In flat, open deserts natural shelters are hard to come by. However, gather together tumble weeds and mat them together. Use any vegetation that you can find to make into a shelter.
In some deserts, the sand 0.5m (2ft) below the surface can be as much as 20 or 30 degrees cooler than the air above it. Dig into the sand and construct a trench 1m (3ft) deep dug in a north-south direction to provide shade during the day. Cover it to provide more protection. When building your shelter you must bear in mind three points:
Simple shelters If you are the survivor of an air crash you may be able to salvage aircraft parts and life rafts to make a shelter. For example, an inflatable raft can be tilted to give protection against the sun.
Try to build a shelter that has more than one layer so the resulting airspace reduces the inside temperature of the shelter. You should place the floor of the shelter about 46cm (18in) above or below the desert surface to increase the cooling effect. Try to use a white material as the outer layer of the shelter, and the sides of the shelter should be movable to protect you during cold and windy periods and to allow ventilation in the extreme heat.
One more thing: build your shelter to take advantage of a breeze – it will keep you cool and keep insects away.