It always starts with a challenge.

After a day of playing in the desert and ensconced over a brew at the now defunct Beatnik Cafe in Joshua Tree, a City-zen who had joined us for the morning asked, "Can you do what the guys on TV can?" "Like what?", I ask. The response; "Eat a raw dead zebra, make water...; and now I know this guys has been watching too much TV. So let's expose Man vs Wild and Survivorman as it has to do with us. Which is??? Nothing; meaning while everything they do is true, eating lizards and bugs, collect water and making shelter it's not a big deal. It is nothing more than proper training from military survival schools, various classes offered for the outdoors or even natural to someone who grew up hunting and fishing. Add to that there are number of excellent books on the subject including one of which was written by yours truly.

Now trying to explain to my new friend that what is manufactured entertainment for TV is not what I'm trying to teach. Start with Man vs Wild out on the African veldt. With a recently (presumably predator) killed zebra our host cuts off a piece, takes a bite then makes a comment while asking whether you would do this or not. Hell no! I'm not going to eat a piece of raw dead zebra or any other type of kill, predator or road. The main reason is there are not going to be a lot of fresh reasonable kills left behind in the desert. Desert predators and scavengers make sure of that in very short order. Another thing, he's got a knife to cut a piece of zebra off. Both of us have knives and are skilled in the outdoors. Shouldn't he be able to make a nice fire to cook that piece of zebra. Why eat raw meat unless you like sushi or steak tartar? That''s my preference BBQ'd snake, lizard or whatever.

Survivorman was even more rigged. He found (placed) himself in the desert where he easily found water and food. It wasn't until the second commercial that I realized he placed himself in the Mojave Desert near the western mountains in winter so he could find food and water. Let's move him to the Black Rock Desert in NV, or put him on top of Black Mesa in AZ during the summer and see how he fares. My point is don't expect to find food, water or shelter most desert environments. You are better being prepared with the proper gear in your car or day pack rather than trying to use a bunch of survival tricks meant for experts.

Myths Exposed: Solar Stills. I've always loved the theory of the solar still. Easy to build and they do work. Dig a pit about 2-3ft across and the same deep keeping the sides as verticle as possible. Fill the bottom 1/3-1/2 of the pit with fresh crushed green brush placing a catch container into the center of the brush. Broad leafed plants are best for this; not something you find in a desert. Cover the pit with a sheet of plastic and put a rock in the center so it is over the cup. As moisture evaporates from the plants it gathers on the plastic then drips down into the cup. Yield: ~4-8oz (120-240Ml) in ~8 hours. Energy expended to get that cup of water? Over a liter and getting heat stressed. The best place to conserve water is in your body. The best place to find water is in your car.

See ya.