Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

So I was reading a post on Matador Sports called "5 Tips For Desert Camping," a solid collection of wisdom-filled nuggets from a dude that's presumably spent some time out on the sand. Author Adam Roy covers the basics including bringing plenty of water, protecting your possessions from the heat and respecting the wildlife. His tips are good and got me thinking about an additional set of desert camping rules. So from my deep-seated desert camping experience (a couple of biking trips to Moab) and a little research, here are 5 more tips for desert camping.

--Prepare to shit. No, you won't necessarily get the runs, but you'll need to prepare to shit. Literally. Deserts have fragile ecosystems that often lack the bacteria needed to break down waste. So if there's no flush or vault johns, you'll want to check with the local wilderness authority on the appropriate procedures and bring your own toilet. Or Wag Bag. You don't want to stumble across your petrified turd the next time you're hiking the desert. And neither does anyone else.

--Bring a full brimmed hat. I've done more hiking than camping in the desert and the one thing that I've found is a baseball hat doesn't quite cut it when it comes to scorching desert rays coming in from every angle. I recently upgraded to a fully brimmed safari-style hat and I'd suggest anyone hiking the desert does the same. It works wonders.

--Carry sand anchors. I've never camped in loose enough sand to need sand anchors, but I wouldn't want to be stuck in the raging winds of the open desert without them. Unlike traditional stakes that can slip right out of loose sand, sand anchors stay put in the loose stuff. 

--Bring sports drink mixes. When you think desert, you immediately think water. One gallon per day person is the easy-to-remember standard. But water doesn't replenish electrolytes and nutrients like sports drinks. Instead of trying to pack a 7-11 cooler shelf full of Gatorades into your cooler, bring a packet of powder or tablets. There are a ton of electrolyte supplements on the market from tablets to chews to spray, so pack enough for your trip and you'll keep hydrated in every way.

--Don't forget the firewood (if fires are permitted) and shade. Gathering firewood at desert campsites is often a no-no. Plus, there aren't necessarily a whole lot of trees to cut from anyway. Bring your own firewood. Oh, and the lack of trees also means a lack of shade from the searing midday sun. If you plan on hanging around at your campsite any time between early morning and evening, you'll want to pack a sun tent or shade of some sort.

• camping
• desert
• tips