Desert Survival Stories

Deserts are stark and beautiful, attracting hikers and other people seeking adventure. But spending time in a desert has potentially deadly risks. Desert Survival Stories examines the experiences of people who have faced death in deserts and survived. Readers will learn about the unique features and dangers of deserts and discover how to prepare for and stay safe on an adventure in these regions. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

"When faced with nature's life and death circumstances, how would you respond? Survival stories recounts true stories of people overcoming adversity and surviving against the odds. Readers will learn which decisions survivors made that led to their rescues as well as tips and tricks on how to survive in similar situations."--Back cover.

Abandoning his life to honor his best friend's death, Wolf is stranded with three strangers in the mountain wilderness above Palm Springs and confronts a terrible choice in order to survive. By the author of Rush Home Road.

Anyone venturing into the desert, either by crossing on foot, vehicle, or in an aircraft (other than a commercial flight) should be prepared. Desert regions are those least likely to have an easily available source of water. Nevertheless, the survivor must find a water supply or they will die. No matter how abundant the rest of your survival resources are, without water your time is limited. To travel or stay put is one of the great dilemmas any survivor must face. The factors governing any decision should be based on where you are, your chances of survival if you stay put, where you intend moving to and the related hazards in getting there. Without communications it is difficult to assess whether there will be a rescue attempt, and even if there is, it would be presumptive to believe that they will locate you. Additionally, having the physical and mental ability, plus the resources to travel and reach a given point accurately is also a major factor. The SAS Guide to Desert Survival prepares the traveler for any situation they may find themselves in while venturing across desert and arid areas. It will explain the need for an immediate plan, as time will be against you, as well as how to dress for the ultimate protection from the sun and the cold (yes, deserts get very cold at night). The book will show you how and when to travel, as well as how to navigate a route to safety. The desert has two main advantages: the sun and the general clearness of visibility; a simple heliograph will flash a signal to both ground and air rescue services up to twenty-five miles away.

An “authoritative, comprehensive, well written, and entertaining” guide to staying alive in the desert from a Texas Parks and Wildlife veteran (Library Journal). 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—a naturalist and search-and-rescue veteran who’s worked with the US Air Force on survival skills—here offers a practical, comprehensive handbook for both short-term and long-term survival in the Chihuahuan and other North American deserts.

In the spring of 1994, Mauro Prosperi took part in a grueling six-day race called the Marathon of the Sands. Mauro, along with 133 other runners, set out to race 151 miles (234 km) across the hot and sandy Sahara Desert. On the fourth day of the race, a sandstorm struck! Millions of grains of sand whirled in the air, pounding and stinging Mauro’s skin. For six hours, the fierce sandstorm made it almost impossible to see. After the storm ended, Mauro saw no other runners and there was no trail—just endless mounds of sand. He was lost in the Sahara. Would Mauro make it out of the desert alive? Lost in a Desert is a heart-stopping collection of true stories about what it’s like to be lost and forced to survive in a desert. Captivating, first-person accounts of survivors include a young man whose hiking expedition in a desert went terribly wrong as well as a woman who injured herself while walking alone in a desert. The book also includes general information about the world’s deserts and the fascinating plants and animals that live in them. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting survival tales. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The desert is one of the harshest and deadliest environments for humans, but we’re still inevitably drawn to this vast, parched landscape. This vibrantly illustrated book presents fascinating true stories of desert survival that are unforgettable.