All too many survival books leave one to assume that armed with a machete and a paper match one can march forthwith into the desert and live a life of kings.
Bullhocky.
Not even the long-vanished prehistoric Native Americans lived like kings, and the desert is a lot drier now that it used to be. In the Phoenix area, there were three major rivers which flowed all year round. It isn't hard to survive in a riparian area with squaw fish large enough to eat off for a year.
In any case, the wilderness has shrunk, at least in the lower 48 states. Most areas where I hike, I could be back at the cars in an hour's fast walk (admittedly I walk pretty fast).
Modern survival, alas, most often consists of hunkering down to make oneself comfortable whist awaiting the Search and Rescue team. Call me a pragmatist, but I would rather carry an extra sweatshirt and a couple of energy bars than a machete anyday. Even energy bars taste better than a machete.
These pages contain those gems of wisdom I have unearthed in 35 years of backpacking, including seven years as a professional guide. I have only been the object of a search and rescue effort once, and that was in the snow, not in the desert. And I made it back to the road before they found me, anyhow. I COULD have been the object of many a search had I been a bit less prepared, or careless, or lucky, or stubborn. However I consider coming out of a potential survival situation all by oneself without needing the services of Search and Rescue to be the ultimate in survival. I daresay most Search and Rescue personnel agree with me.
Take me Home country roads