Lost in the South Texas Desert

A panoramic view of the desert created from an elevated platform at the La Copita Ranch shows the monotony of thorn bush, mesquite, cactus and dry desert floor that ranges all the way to the horizon. Survival for a human, without water, in this environment will be less than a few days.

Imagine being an immigrant on foot, walking north from the Rio Grande River. You have no water; it's 110° F. The vegetation will either stick you, stab you, cut you or it's poisonous. If you could walk in a straight line (you couldn't), the nearest building you can see from this elevated point is four or five hours away. You begin walking, but  the horizon and buildings you saw from the top of the hill are now obscured by the height of the thick desert brush; you quickly lose your sense of direction. You will most likely miss the buildings you saw from the top of the rise, wander past them and any hope for a chance of help, food or especially water.

Plants search deep for water, but there is none anywhere near the surface.

In the heat of the afternoon sun, you shed your warm clothes – they're too hot and heavy to carry. Finally, the sun sets. Quickly the temperature cools. By ten o'clock it's only 45 degrees. It's pitch black, too dark to look for firewood and no way to light it if you found it.

At sunrise you're exhausted from the all-night shivering. The sunshine feels good, but god, you're so thirsty. The shifting sand in the incessant Texas wind has covered your tracks. You can't remember from which way you came or which way you were going.

Acacia Trees thrive in the south Texas desert. Take note of the long sharp thorns that grow in a "V" shaped pattern

The temperature is rising. You have to move. You begin walking, stumbling, falling, crawling, and only the coyotes, rattlesnakes, and buzzards know where you are.