Adventure awaits you in the desert!

The desert … its unforgiving harshness, the cracking dirt ground begs for water, the wind and the baron trees leaves some people wondering if it is worth the trip. But... if you can sit quietly for a moment, the desert will come to you, it will lift your spirits… comforting and accepting. Wildlife speaks into the night as the stars multiply by the second…taking a deep breath I am once again filled with peace. The warm night wind travels through my hair as I watch the moon shyly make its appearance low on the horizon before settling high in the desert sky for the night. Coyotes cry, wind howls and the moon shines upon the rocks making them appear as tiny pools of water. These are the reasons I make the long trip into the desert…. It’s more than a destination; it’s an adventure, a spiritual connection with the earth.

If you have the time, surviving the harshness of the desert can be a rewarding experience, not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Many people travel thousands of miles to gain spiritual connections…A sense of belonging for the people that have lost some part of themselves. Go to the desert! Hike the dirt trails in complete solitude, explore the mud caves and the perfect darkness that comes with them, sit in the night air and hear the desert coming alive. Take the dirt into your hands and feel the connection that we all have if we are patient enough for it to come to us.

In the desert you can hike, camp, rock climb, go bouldering and so much more. A favorite is bouldering, you don’t need any special gear or experience, just the willingness to "go for it" to explore and to take the road less traveled, choose a path with little to no footsteps and be the first to stumble across a "forest" of boulders invisible from the trailhead. Bouldering offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity for physical exercise, adventure and a spiritual connection. Imagine being on a trail, in solitude, you wander off a bit… make a right turn… and then a left and climb up a rock and suddenly you are lost, surrounded by boulders as big as buildings. The adventure sets in and you must scramble around the rocks and climb up to higher ground trying to see below, perhaps you are the first person to explore that area, and when you finally reach the trailhead again you are rewarded with a sense of completion and achievement.

Going into the desert for an adventure doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, in fact it is the most rewarding and economical vacation that you can offer yourself and your family. The best time to visit the desert is in the fall and spring, the summer heat can be relentless and the winter nights are very chilly. Preparing for your trip to the desert takes minimal preparation just be sure to check the weather and be careful of washes, as they easily flood without warning, and water is essential in the desert. Bring a tent and enjoy the soft desert sand as your mattress, or better yet, just pull out your sleeping bag and enjoy the delights of the desert night. Bring at least a gallon of water per person per day! Plan to get lost if you wander off the trails, the desert topography can all blend together giving you a false sense of direction, but, getting lost is half the fun! Bring your children and let them enjoy the serenity and the spiritual connection that the desert offers, run your fingers through the sand and feel the vibrations, watch the tiny field mice gather shiny objects, follow the trail of a slow moving tortoise or the frantic scrambling of the huge desert ants. Did I mention water? Bring more than you think you need For the most rewarding desert experience, try it alone…if you dare!

Mariah Hedrick has extensive experience in camping, hiking, cave exploration and many more outdoor adventures. To read more stories visit http://www.boa-magazine.com