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!

We drove through Death Valley in August 330 years ago (so the following advice may have changed) and thought, what could go wrong, we've got a super car with amazing air con?

The first thing we saw was a huge warning poster with the dangers to look out for and then, at the bottom in very large letters 'Turn off your air-con as your car won't cope, it will overheat and break down and you'll all be toast' (paraphrasing here). So, no air con. We managed it, I don't know how, and would never ever ever do it again.

You're not going to hike, oP.
I mean that as statement of bleedin' obvious. You aren't into hiking.

You're going to get out of the air'conned car, walk about 150m to the airConed visitor centre, enjoy the exhibits and landscape inbetween, maybe stroll for 10 minutes around the Nature Experience Garden.

Linen trousers & long dresses will be fine for most venues you'll actually go to.

I hope you have a great trip, btw.

I’ve been invited on an Antarctic expedition, would a nice single breasted wool jacket and some cute leather boots be okay? Thick coats make me look boxy and, as I usually avoid cold conditions, I don’t want to buy anything new that I won’t wear again.

OP, it’s called Death Valley for a reason. The fact that you’ve posted on S&B, rejected technical hiking gear for being ugly, and only realised half way through the thread that you’ll need a hydration system, suggests this won’t end well. But at least you’ll look cute while being airlifted out.

You got there before me. Death Valley is not the place for neophyte hikers .You really need to respect the desert. It isn't the place for a simple jolly.

OP go on a drive through red rocks if you want to enjoy the sights of the desert.

I lasted 10 minutes out of the car in Death Valley, enough to pose for a photo on the salt flat, take a picture of then h on salt flat before retreating to aircon car, it was 129F according to car.

we stayed overnight at furnace creek and did venture out of the air conditioned room to swim at 6pm outdoors before changing and eating inside. No way could I have hiked except at night (September)

These are my hiking trousers. But I wear them in Britain not 40+ degrees, they are excellent though, comfortable and don’t look awful

https://www.craghoppers.com/womens-kiwi-pro-ii-trousers-mid-khaki/

Do not hike in Death Valley if you do not know what you are doing. People die there.

If you’re just driving through on your way to Yosemite from vegas there are some fun sights to see near the road that give you a taste. Pick up a map and info from the visitor centre and you can walk out onto the salt pans, take photos next to the giant thermometer, drive through a couple of canyons, walk on the dunes ect. Do not leave the main tourist routes. For that you just need a light long sleeved shirt, light trousers and flat shoes.

Modern cars cope better, we went a few years ago and that text is no longer there. Apparently they test a lot of new cars there. But still, drive cautiously and never leave the main roads.

A sequinned gold dress, heels and a tiara obvs darling! 💃🏻👠🪩

We drove from Vegas to Death Valley, then Lake Isabella and then Yosemite before going to San Francisco.

My guess is if neither of you are experienced hikers you won’t be hiking in Death Valley - you’ll be driving through and getting out of the car at the main viewpoints to look around. This is what we did, and you won’t need hiking clothes for it. I’d think you’d be more likely to do hiking in Yosemite but there are plenty of easy and accessible trails which you could wear leggings and trainers for.

Probably just speak to your friend and work out what you are doing.

My partner has hiked in Death Valley. He says 1 - don't do it. 2 - if you must then buy your clothes when you're there, take local advice on what to wear. 3 - remember that your walking boots are likely to need breaking in, so you'd need to get them in advance and use them. And 4 - it's a daft idea, don't do it.

Okay, so we have an unfit poker player and a woman who has no walking experience planning a hike to a 50C location literally called "the valley of death".
What could possibly go wrong?

Oh op are we going to read about you on the news??

I’ve hiked in Utah/rockies - you def need the ‘ugly’ trousers. Good boots, massive hat, camel back water back pack thing.

Haha, this is our exact experience of death valley.

Driving for hours and hours without seeing a single sign of life, human, flora, or fauna. Then a stop off at a scary motel with cracked porcelain dolls dressed in faded velvet in reception, a few locals staring at us in confusion, and a bunch of truckers. The motel was definitely like something out of an American horror movie. I'd give it a swerve in future.

Yosemite was amazing though. Loved it.

Our road trip took in Grand Canyon, Vegas, Death valley, Yosemite, San Francisco.

If you google ‘is Death Valley safe for hiking?’ it says this:

hiking in Death Valley is not generally safe, especially in summer, due to extreme heat and remote conditions. While it's possible to hike during the cooler months (November to March) by following safety guidelines like carrying ample water, wearing appropriate clothing, and being aware of potential dangers such as flash floods and remote terrain, attempting it during warmer periods is extremely risky and has led to fatalities.

Wow didn't know cars had aircon in the 17th century

I can recommend this shirt: https://www.craghoppers.com/womens-nosilife-adventure-long-sleeved-shirt-iii-seasalt/

it’s a great top layer for hiking with a wick away base layer underneath. It has it all, insect repellent, light coloured, uv protection, and wicks moisture away from the body. Most hiking gear isn’t that fashionable but you can get basic pieces that work well.

A shroud?

It does not sound as though either of you are sufficiently experienced or equipped to undertake hiking in Death Valley.

its one of the most inhospitable places on earth. No doubt there are short walks or perhaps viewing points where you can park and look around. its a desert and has the flora and fauna to match. Think rattlesnakes, tarantula. you prob wont see them but a simple Google on Death Valley will tell you what you need to know

I wouldn't wear those for serious hikes because of the cotton content (I'm not hiking in the UK). I only wear fast drying, moisture wicking fabric. If cotton gets wet it stays wet for longer and that can lead to hypothermia.

in American movies they wear jeans and boots

Yosemite in October could get snow. It's beautiful but will be different (VERY different!) weather to D.V.

Save time and wear a shroud.

Don’t worry the tarantulas eat them.

Hiking in Death Valley? Jeezo, that's brave. It's like the surface of the sun. Very dangerous I'd say. People die from this kind of exploit all the time - haven't you seen the documentaries?