Water in the Desert
If you’ve taken clean, drinkable water for granted – take a trip to the desert. I haven’t thought about, been worried about or drank as much water as I did in a recent photography trip to the Nevada desert to photograph an old ghost town.
Look at this old Ford Model T water truck in the Nevada desert about an hour from Las Vegas in Eldorado Canyon. The last gasp for life as it backs up to a water tower with its nose snaking up to the town. The windshield and glass are long gone. The wooden spokes remain but the rubber tire treads simply dried up and blew away in the extreme conditions.
In this region the hot season lasts for 3.4 months, from June 3 to September 16, with an average daily high temperature above 95°F. The hottest day of the year is July 13, with an average high of 105°F and low of 80°F.
Last Chance Gas – Old Desert Garage Bw Framed Print by Edward M. Fielding – https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/featured/last-chance-gas-old-desert-garage-bw-edward-fielding.htmlThree tip for surviving in the desert where water is the lifeblood:
- Always inform someone of where you are going, your route, and when you expect to return. Stick to your plan.
- DO NOT start a trip to the desert on impulse with few supplies, little or no water and no real idea of when you will return. Always be well organized and plan the entire trip.
- Give your water supply extra thought. Carry water in gallon or half gallon plastic containers.
I knew I’d be photographing in the desert heat so I headed out early but on top of the regions average extreme hot, yet dry, temps – a heat wave across the country drove temperatures up to around 115 degrees.
I brought plenty of water and stopped in at the general store every hour to cool off in the AC and guzzle a cold Gatorade. I was worried about my equipment cooking in the sun. The black plastic material that favored by modern camera equipment manufacturers tends to get very hot to the touch in this heat and direct sun. I was worried about melting lubrication inside the camera or maybe even flapping mirror flying off but in the end everything survived.