You know, I had the same reaction. There are no trails out there because few would want to hike them. At least in the southwest. People die out there. I know I will get slammed by desert lovers who will go on and on about the flowers (what, 2 weeks out of the year?) but my desert experiences have been nothng but dry, hot, dusty, and miserable (with all respects to Pika). YMMV.