Brum, if you dug a solar still at 'scale' to your sketch, one would need an
ultra-light backhoe. Nice pic, just the same.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


The thing about solar stills anywhere, is that they are very slow to make a useful quantity of water and require a huge amount of effort to dig a pit big enough to get the surface area needed. This is one of those "practice at home" things before you let your life depend on it. I've been in 'heat and water' trouble in the desert and digging a pit was the last thing on our minds. If we'd hung around to do it, we'd be dead from exposure. We were on bicycles and the only ground around for miles was loose gravel, with ocotillo and creosote. So, best bring enough water, with electrolytes, with 1/3rd reserve, AND PORTABLE SHADE!!! (like a poncho shelter or a couple mylar space blankets). When you run into trouble out there, the question becomes..."do I spend my time trying to summon help" ...or..."take the chance and trudge on", or "hunker down into survival mode". It's a tricky thought process to go through when you are under heat stress. Problems arrise VERY quickly and you're in trouble before you realize it. All desert survival water techniques take time and effort. "Bagging" creosote bushes sometimes works too, but you'll be spending the night out there to harvest a few drops of water in the morning. Expect to be disapointed, and really uncomfortable. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I'd also suggest that 'desert newbies' pick up some reading material about desert hiking and survival and get acquainted with how to "read the desert". Big Bend Ntl. Park offers a survival course, which I've never taken, but plan to someday. It's pricy but I understand it's good.