Adapted from Desert Hiking by Dave Ganci

Hiking in the desert is a joy, especially if you take the time to look for the abundant beauty of nature that is everywhere. Wildflowers and exotic plants spread out in all directions and in all seasons. Sunrise pinks and greens, noonday yellows, and sunset purple-browns provide a daily kaleidoscope of color. Desert storms present mind-boggling blitzkriegs of cumulus clouds, rain, thunder, and electricity that dissipate into clear, constellation-counting nights. The desert landscape guides the eye to forms of long, soft shadows broken by sharp, dry, desert peaks.

Nevertheless, the desert is a museum of contrast and variety offered to the foot traveler at a price: thoughtful planning, respect for the land, and a sense of responsibility toward future generations. Join author and desert hiker Dave Ganci on a typical day spent in this incredible wilderness as he reveals the joys and dangers found in a land of complex interdependence.

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