New to orienteering in the Sonoran desert? Central Arizona features some spectacular scenery, including a wide variety of desert flora. Many orienteers also appreciate the large expanses of open terrain. Unfortunately, the Sonoran desert also has several hostile plants and cactus that can complicate off-trail travel. Here are some tips to make your journey a bit easier.
Winter is our season for desert orienteering, so the usual precautions of sun protections (sun hat, sunscreen, etc.) and extra water are not as critical as in summer months--but they are always a good idea. We normally provide water stops on the course(s), but if speed is not a critical concern, then you should consider also bringing your own water.
Lower leg protection (long pants or knee-high gaiters) are strongly recommended to provide protection against low-lying cactus. Catclaw bushes can also leave painful scratches on bare skin, so you may prefer wearing a long sleeve shirt and long pants.
If speed is not critical to you, you can wear lightweight hiking boots instead of running shoes. The thicker sole and sidewalls offer a lot of protection against cactus needles.
There are many kinds of cactus that you will encounter in the desert, such as prickly pear , Ocotillo , Buckhorn (cane) cholla , and the iconic Saguaro Cactus. Any of them can be painful if you happen to get too close to them. Fortunately, most of these cactii are easily seen and avoided. The only varieties of cactus that are of special concern are the Cholla Cactus, and in particular, Teddy Bear cholla.
Teddy Bear cholla (also known as the !#$%@* cactus) is one of several "Jumping chollas" found in the desert. Other than heat exposure or falling off a cliff, these cholla plants will be your biggest concern for off-trail travel in central Arizona. Ironically, when the sunshine hits the needles of this cholla, this desert plant transforms into one of the most beautiful cactii in the desert.
What makes Teddy Bear Cholla so nasty is the way that the plant reproduces --large clusters of needles fall off the cactus and roll away to take root and form a new plant. The resulting carpet of cholla balls on the ground are as much of problem than the needles that are on the plants themselves. Even the slightest brush against a cholla ball will pull it into you, and needles will easily penetrate a running shoe. It is common for a cholla ball to get flipped from your shoe up onto your leg.
The severity of a cholla encounter can vary from "slight" to "stop-you-in-your-tracks."
Teddy Bear Cholla cactus plants - the nemesis of orienteers
Tips for cholla cactus
Give the cholla plant a wide berth -- 3 or 4 meters -- to avoid the needles
If you must get closer to the plant, SLOW DOWN and watch where you place your feet
NEVER touch or try to remove a cholla ball with your fingers. You will just get more needles stuck in your fingertips. The traditional lore for removing a cholla ball is to use a pocket comb, but a far more effective tool is a small pair of needle-nose pliers from a discount hardware store. This tool also works well for removing cactus needles that have penetrated the sole or side of your shoe. Tweezers will also do, if you are wanting to save a couple extra ounces of weight
For a "slight" cactus encounter, you can also use the "race method" for removing a cholla ball--which takes just a few seconds. CAREFULLY pick up two flat-sided rocks (don't touch any needles with your fingers), pinch the cholla ball on two sides with the rocks, and yank hard.
Map symbols for Teddy Bear cholla
The First Water and Sophie's Flat maps have areas marked where there are higher densities of Teddy Bear cholla. Lighter green is "Cholla, Slow running" and the darker green is "Cholla, walk". Neither of the symbols means that you will have to fight your way through the cholla plants--the plant density is sparse enough that you can pass between them. Rather, this is a cautionary symbol that you need to slow down and watch where you place every footfall to avoid stepping on the cholla balls. In areas where you can easily swerve around the plants and avoid the needles, the cholla plants are not marked. In places where there is a patch of cactus that is too small for an area symbol, a green "X" is used. The symbols are shown on the map legend.
There are several varieties of cane cholla, such as Buckhorn Cholla , in the Sonoran desert. Although this plant also drops needles, it is not as much of a concern as the Teddy Bear cholla. These plants don't normally grow in thick patches, and can easily be avoided. There are no Cane Cholla symbols on the maps.
Catclaw bushes and trees can tear up loose clothing or bare skin. The sharp prickles dig in when you move away from the plant, and you usually have to back up to get free from them. Catclaw can be anywhere, but the biggest concern is when they block travel in the bottom of steep, narrrow reentrants. In these cases, the catclaw are impenetrable--similar to huge blackberry bushes found in other parts of the country. The darkest green area symbol is used to mark thick catclaw bushes on the maps.
Agave are a type of succulent plant that grows in the desert. Normally, these aren't a concern. The exception, however, is if you are traveling down a steep slope. The points of the leaves are razor sharp, so if you happen to slide into one from above, you will get a painful stab with the point going in an inch or more. Steer clear of them if you are going down a steep slope.
Rattlesnakes are dormant in the winter months, and usually are not a concern. If the weather is unusually warm, however, it is possible to encounter rattlesnakes in the shoulder seasons--from late February up to mid November in the fall.
Snake bites are quite rare (in 40 years of GPHXO orienteering meets, there has never been a snake bite), but it never hurts to be prepared. Here are a few simple rules to avoid a bite:
When you hike, never step or put your hands where you can't see. Doing so is the easiest way to surprise a snake and receive a bite. This is particularly important when scrambling around any boulder areas on the map
Keep your eyes and ears open--listen for the rattle, and stop immediately if you hear it. If the snake is more than a body-length away, you can back away. If you are very close, stay still until the rattlesnake moves away from you.
Don't harass a snake--if you encounter one, simply retreat a few steps and walk around it. Never poke a stick or throw rocks at the snake. Not all snakes are rattlesnakes. Gopher snakes, for example, are non-venomous snakes that look similar to a rattlesnake--but they are beneficial to humans. Live and let live.
If you are bitten:
Blow the emergency whistle for help (three quick bursts in succession, continue until help arrives)
Try to remain calm and limit your activity. Don't try and treat the wound or suck venom--wait for help.
Try to keep the affected area below your heart
Take off any jewelry or a watch that may be near the bite—the area will swell