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I'm not picking on you Brum....it's just that I was born, raised and still work daily in this desert. When I was younger, we were all taught the concept of the 'solar still' and I, like most of my peers thought it was the answer to survival in the desert. I reflect back on those who taught us this concept and am certain that none of them had in fact ever made one themselves under 'real world' conditions. I have done it....drank several gallons of water in the process and than waited half a day for the 1/2 cup of liquid that it produced.


I completely concur. You will have to make that hole while sweating buckets and you will get about 1/2 cup of water after 5 hours on a perfect day with damp ground. One is not likely to find damp ground in the desert on most occasions. It simply is not worth it. I am baffled at all the "survival" books that tout this method. Clearly, they are puppeting the previous books to fill space and have not taken the trouble to try this method for themselves in the desert. We have taken full sized shovels, something one will never have while hiking, and have made solar stills in various locations to the letter of the book tutorials in the most perfect sunny weather on hot days. One will be much better served by a shade shelter, taking enough water in their pack, knowing how to navigate so as not to become lost and knowing where to look for water.

Here we are in one location during the construction stage. Now I have heard that one will sweat gallons while digging the hole. I was not hot at all so I don't really know what they are talking about. Girlfriend was huffing and puffing though. YMMV. Come on girl, dig. That hole has to be a lot deeper and it isn't going to dig itself! You see Earthing, I occasionally take my umbrella. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />




Out here on the perimeter, the uppland Sonoran desert, one must be aware the stark reality of a harsh landscape. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />