A reader posted that they didn’t think they could handle running in the heat of the desert. This was one of my primary concerns before running The Atacama Crossing. Being that it is the end of the Colorado winter and I am cold acclimated, I had major concerns of what +100 degree (Fahrenheit) heat would do to me. Believe it or not you get used to the heat. Being that it is not humid in the desert, your sweat evaporates very quickly allowing for efficient cooling. As long as you are keeping your head, neck and upper body wet with water the heat can be managed. I learned a ton about how to handle extreme environments from this book: Surviving the Extremes: What Happens to the Body and Mind at the Limits of Human Endurance. Great chapter on deserts and features a story about The Marathon Des Sables. Written by a doctor and informs you what is going on in your body in extreme conditions. Highly recommend this book.
