HikeArizona.COM

First, this forum has been immensely helpful for planning our trip. So Thank you!

We’re a group of 3 moderately experienced backpackers, and fairly new to desert conditions (I have done a guided trip in Joshua tree). Planning to set off on a 4 day journey in western supes end of March. Water questions are well answered already but have a couple of others:

- what do y’all do for food protection? In jtree we used rat sacks
- any tips regarding bushes/cacti etc. planning for long sleeves but I generally like to hike in shorts - let me know if this is a bad idea
- what are the biggest risks as far as wildlife? Rattlesnakes? Any prep/guidance for worst case scenarios would be appreciated!

Anything I’m missing? Hoping for this to be the first of many desert expeditions but happy to learn the “easy way” from others!!

I've always used Ursacks in the Supes. I've seen numerous bears there, mostly at higher elevations, including Reavis Ranch and places all along Two Bar Ridge. Rattlesnakes are all over the place, but I don't see them very often. The critters that bother me most are mice moving about under dry leaves, sounding like giant monsters.

Cactus pokes are inevitable. I worry more about agaves, which can inflict a bloody wound in an instant.

My only other useful advice is to plan your water carefully and conservatively.

Have fun, I envy people visiting the Supes for the first time, it's one of my favorite places.