Man vs. Wild: Lone Star State

Heatstroke and dehydration are the biggest threats to your survival in the desert. Because the air is so dry and hot, these dangerous conditions come on fast and hard. You must find shade and water quickly … or you will die.

The most likely place to find water in the desert is at the base of a canyon, where you’ll also find shade and vegetation. Since streams often run through the bottom of canyons, eventually making their way to a bigger river, you must head downhill to reach water.

The most important part of the body to keep cool is your head. It is your body’s primary thermostat. To help cool down, improvise a sun hat. If you have a T-shirt, simply tear open one seam, urinate on the material, then wrap the damp cloth around your head, turban style. This will keep the sun off your head and thus spare you from the full force of its heat.

The National Park Service recommends that each hiker carry at least 1 gallon of water per day while exploring wilderness areas in Texas. Each year, the NPS rescues dozens of hikers who underestimate the terrain and/or temperatures or overestimate their abilities – it is not uncommon for the mercury to reach temperatures over 100 degrees F in Big Bend, for example. Hikers have died here after going just a few hours without water.

In the dry heat of the desert, i.e., an arid climate, your body loses water at a faster rate than normal. Any physical activity, especially in the middle of the day when the temperatures are highest, greatly accelerates your body’s water loss.

Thirst is an unreliable indicator of your body’s water needs. You may already be dehydrated before feeling thirsty. You must drink water throughout the day. Food is important to your survival as well, to replace the electrolytes that your body loses through perspiration.

Headache, sluggishness and irritability are signs that you are already dehydrated.

If you run into a mountain lion, you should make a lot of noise, wave your arms, throw rocks or sticks at the animal, and generally make yourself look as big as possible. Now, you may cry like a baby if you meet up with a mountain lion -- just be sure you make a lot of noise while you ball your eyes out.

Four species of rattlesnakes are found in Texas: the western diamondback, which sports a pattern of same-sized alternating white and black rings on its tail; the black-tail rattlesnake, a green-colored snake with a solid black tail that is common throughout the mountains and desert; the rock rattlesnake, a shy snake that relies on camouflage to maintain its privacy; and the Mojave rattlesnake, a greenish snake with an alternating pattern of wide white and narrow black bands on its tail and the most toxic venom of the four species.

Snakes do not like vibrations, so by stomping your feet or banging your water bottle on the ground, you can keep snakes at bay. Watch where you put your hands and feet at all times, to avoid being bitten.