Originally Posted by
cocoa
I got started as a hiker in Arizona - day trips and weekend backpacking trips near Phoenix, AZ. There is sooo much public land out there...meaing free and empty.
Many ways to die in the desert though, so exercise caution....dehydration (bring a gallon per day per person and don't rely on sources flowing, especially given ongoing drought conditions), overheating (in hot deserts like around Phoenix), sun poisoning (which I had once, WITHOUT a sunburn or without dehydration), severe sunburn or burns on the bottoms of your feet (can get up to 3rd degree burns), etc.
Not to discourage you...I dappled in all of these dangers, and have survived to tell of it.
Also, once I got too close to a jumping cholla and spent the better part of an hour pulling spines out of my butt. Ouch! Much to the amusement of my husband.