Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed by a dissapointingly generic content which spent far too many pages offering basic equipment and navigational advice which, one would hope, most readers would have had knowledge of before even considering a desert trek!

To be fair, if you live in the USA (where desert terrain is far more accesable than in Europe) and need a book to read having woken up this morning thinking "hey, I know, let's go hiking in the desert" this is probably an OK book - in any other circumstances I would leave this well alone.


An impressive guide to desert lands   December 8, 2004
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This rather extravagantly named work bills itself as the first comprehensive desert 'how-to' reference on hiking and traveling the deserts of the world, and for once it's true. Well-illustrated, the book has lavish coverage and information on hiking various deserts and terrain, discussions of plants and wildlife, snakes and other hazards, first aid, survival, and quite thorough advice on successfully navigating arid lands. Well worth a look.


Superior Advice   December 7, 2004
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

There there isn't as much literature on desert hiking and desert survival as there is for other environments. I've read most of the desert books out there, and this is the best of all of them, and that includes the much overrated SAS desert survival book. The Ultimate Desert Handbook covers much more than survival, but the survival section alone is worth the price, with a large amount of truly useful information that has proved true for me by experience. Water, acclimatization, clothing and equipment, navigation, backpack and vehicle preparation, information on specific deserts of the world - nothing is left out. I know of no other desert book that comes close to providing as much information as this one, and that's about all that needs to be said.


Best of the desert outdoors books   October 18, 2003
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is honestly the best book I've ever read on walking, backpacking, driving, and mountain biking the desert. A big book, it covers both North American and world deserts, and provides much more specific information and advice than I've found in any other desert outdoors books. Though not described as a 'desert survival' book, there's actually more survival information in here than in a dedicated survival guide (and the material isn't limited to U.S. deserts, either). No, this isn't a book for a quick out-and-back foray on some manicured park path, but instead is a very detailed how-to on learning the art of safely traveling the wildest and most remote desert areas - whether it's solo backpacking or planning a desert four-wheel-drive expedition. If that's what interests you, this is THE book to get.