What to wear for hiking in Death Valley??

[Appalonia]

I'm not a hiking kind of person, but I've agreed to go on this holiday with a friend. I don't wear shorts and have no hiking trousers, and especially not for a desert type climate. I'm at a bit of a loss to wear but I need to find something, as I'm going beginning of October. Apparently it's too hot for jeans, which are the only kind of utility clothes I wear. I'm more of a long dress, linen trousers kind of person. Any ideas as to what I could wear, as I'm starting to panic a bit!

Has anyone mentioned snakes and scorpions yet?

Just to add something positive for the poor OP.
Yosemite is spectacular and is very car-friendly with options for as much or as little walking as you fancy. It caters for the masses of tourists that visit with plenty of facilities but manages to stay absolutely beautiful, You can get away with a simple pair of walking trousers, maybe something from here, a hat and decent sun protection. I'd get your mate to focus on that as the main attraction and just skim by Death Valley so you can say you did. Have an amazing time 🙂

Dear God in Hell. I live not far from Death Valley for part of the year. If you are nether of you hikers, I suggest a nice stroll down Las Vegas Boulevard. Preferably in shoes that you won't break a leg in.

You...are...insane...if...you...even...think...about...Death...Valley

Las Vegas Boulevard is not exactly safe, and it's the closest you should get to wildlife.

I'd seriously recommend reading this blog to get some idea of what can happen when things go wrong in Death Valley. It's incredibly interesting and terrifying at the same time.
https://www.otherhand.org/home-page/search-and-rescue/the-hunt-for-the-death-valley-germans/
It's not a place for leggings and fashion statements. I'm not sure if even trust one of the bigger outdoor chains in this country to advise on suitable clothing.

You say you're not a hiking kind of a person @Appalonia . In which case the appropriately named Death Valley is far from the ideal place to introduce you to this pastime.

Just driving in those parts can be an unsettling experience. Striking out on foot would be a big NO from me. But if you must don't forget your snake boots...

It's a hike not a fashion show.
Why are you even going??

I was in Death Valley 3 weeks ago. Unforgettable and wonderful. Yes, it was 43C at midday but the car had AC and there are swimmings pools fed by natural springs at the two hotels in Furnace Creek oasis. Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, is a huge salt flat surrounded by red mountains -superb.
Mini-hikes of 20-30 mins could work well.
Enjoy!

We deliver from vegas to LA in the summer via Death Valley and Yosemite (among other places obviously). It was in July, so different temperature maybe, but the heat in Death Valley was unbelievable. It was like opening a fan oven as the breeze was so hot. I could feel my legs burning kiss when I was unloading the suitcase. It’s not somewhere to walk, let alone hike. I was panicking a bit when we left the hotel as we had no signal for about 2 hours so had no sat nav - didn’t need to worry as it was a straight road and didn’t see anyone for hours and hours.

yosemite is better for hiking, but we did see two bears and wouldn’t have wanted to be off the beaten track. I think you need to rethink.

OP you are what is known in my neck of the woods as “a mountain rescue statistic waiting to happen”.

i think you need to find out A LOT more information from your friend to help you plan what you need.

OK so if everyone else hasn't put you off I'm going to add advice. I went hiking in the joshua tree national park last October. It had been very hot. We got up at the crack of dawn. Remember you are still on UK time so around 3/4am you are raring to go. Then we drove to a location to watch sunrise over the desert. We downloaded maps in advance as there is no GPS. We followed the driving route very carefully as we didn't want to get lost. We parked up and walked various areas along the route. The scenery was amazing. We took lots of water plus our own food. There were signs everywhere reminding you YOU COULD DIE!

We are hiking people. Wore proper hiking boots, proper lightweight wicking walking socks that come some way above the boot, and very lightweight but full length walking trousers because you don't want to get cacti stuck in your legs or snake bites or whatever. Also a sports bra top and like a yoga t shirt. I also had a lightweight long rolled sleeve linen white shirt for wear in the desert. Hat very important. High factor sun cream.

We drove home by noon. By which time it was too hot and we wanted to swim in the pool.

The toilets first thing were fine but as it got hotter they became wasp filled. My friend camped overnight and said snakes and scorpions made for the quickest wee ever! I don't know if there are any comparable hikes and toilet facilities in desth valley. I'm off to Google.

So my advice if you are going to see some desert scenery is to find a way to drive it in a reliable car with lots of water and only walk between dawn and mid morning.

Yosemite should be easier and is on my bucket list. Still need to follow bear safety advice.

You need to look at Mountain Warehouse etc and buy some suitable stuff - it may be hideous but you need to be protected and comfortable.

Make sure you have a suitable backpack to carry supplies and stock the car with water.

Also make sure to walk in your new hiking boots before you go.

I think you need to start doing some serious research. I hope you survive and have a great time :)

go to an outdoor store - Mountain Warehouse, Go Outdoors etc and speak to the staff.

they will be able to advise you on appropriate footwear and clothing.

’style’ doesn’t matter. Comfort and safety does.

Reading up on the national park, there are several easy (under 5km) trails and plenty of trails around Bishop as well. Since your travel partner is not athletic it sounds like you will stick to short hikes. Weather can still be very hot, so try to aim for 8am starts to be finished by 10 or so. I think I would find trails closer to Bishop, they look more scenic to me.

You can download AllTrails app for great info on hikes including length and difficulty. Have a look at Shark Fin trail in between Bishop and Death Valley park. It's rated easy 45 minute loop with great views. Hiking doesn't necessarily mean 8 hours of rock climbing.

Sun protection, clothing in layers (yes light cargos should be fine) and good shoes with socks. Trainers should be fine for easy hikes on well known paths.

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/conniston-womens-cargo-trousers-p55351.aspx/grey/

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/hiker-stretch-womens-trouser-p30116.aspx/blue/

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/straight-leg-womens-trousers-p91553.aspx/stone/

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/footwear/walking-shoes/

What’s the itinerary? What’s your route and where are you staying and for how long? I think you have posted about this in Holidays and weren’t very clear there either.

Death Valley is spectacular, but massive and very hot. Wear lightweight trousers. Any lightweight trousers. Doesn’t matter. You aren’t going hiking - you’ll probably only walk around the visitor centre and inn at Furnace Creek, and maybe go a few metres onto Badwater Basin. If you’re staying at Furnace Creek, that will be great. The dark skies are spectacular. Make sure you have plenty of water with you.

For Yosemite, jeans or leggings may be OK in October. Are you staying in the valley? There are plenty of short trails that don’t require hiking gear, and any number of amazing viewpoints, but you do need sensible footwear.

Tarantulas seem scary but are actually not a problem. scorpions, fire ants, these are things to watch out for. I got stung by ants once. I spent the night crying the pain was so bad.

I did a bunch of desert camping and hiking in the southwest in a former life. It is absolutely beautiful, but you need to be prepared. Read some outfitting guides or go to a proper store.

my favorite thing is that some of the parks have ratings on the trails for the number of sandwiches and water bottles that you need to bring on the day hike. Not an overnight hike to be clear, just a daytime ramble on a marked trail.

you should stay here!

this blogger is just floating around in a sundress not a cacti in sight but the views are immense

Looks like sunrise over badlands basin is the place to start

It's called DEATH Valley for a reason. ☠️

Don't do that part of the trip OP. Otherwise you'll end up in the news, and not for a good reason.

Death Valley amazes me. Hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was there, 56.7c

Hopefully it will be a bit cooler than that for you

You're not a hiker, don't do it. Madness.
We lived further north and the heat was suffocating. The hottest part of the year, we went from Air conditioned house, to air conditioned car, to air conditioned shop, or school, Or the clubhouse pool that felt like bathwater in the heat. We were regularly near over 40 in summer, near 40 in the fall.

You absolutely shouldn’t be doing this. You are woefully and dangerously unprepared and naive. I mean that kindly. Just stick with Vegas and don’t start hiking in a place that could very easily kill you.

I think maybe focus less on what you look like and get the proper gear OP.

Or just swerve it altogether. This is a car crash.

The fact you've asked about this in style and beauty tells me everything I need to know.

Don't do it OP. Fashion is the least of your worries.

Christ.

Sorry for piling on but I think it’s warranted given the location you’ve chosen: Death Valley is not for people who “don’t hike”. You won’t know how true this is unless/until you experience it. Just don’t do it.

For a poker player in Vegas wanting to undo some of the rampant commercialism and money money money that Vegas is: get in your car and drive to Utah/Zion, or if you can handle it San Diego or Palm Springs/Joshua Tree (these are mammoth drives btw). You’ll see nature, it’ll be easy and accessible and you can do it in yoga pants, there will be no life threatening wildlife. It might even be fun.

Just do a bit of research (what you’ve read here is enough) and tell your friend no. If he insists, tell him you’ll meet him at the airport for your return flight and take yourself off to a spa for two nights.