Sounds like a night‑time brain‑game. First step: chart a route that avoids the worst of the storm, then plan where to find water and shelter. You give me the terrain details, and we’ll turn survival into a step‑by‑step puzzle.

Alright, we’re running a midnight relay with a twist. Step one: start heading east, but keep the ridge on your left—this keeps the wind from whipping you into a sand‑puddle. At mile 20 hit the riverbed: dig a shallow hole, line it with any cloth, and let the occasional trickle collect. Shade is scarce, but you can lay a narrow piece of canvas to shade the hole—just enough to stop evaporation. Between miles 35 and 45 the dunes get nasty; here’s where you’re going to lean on the ridge’s shadow. Trek up the western slope a little, use a rock as a handhold, and stay below the dune crests. Mile 45 to 55 is the ridge proper: use the vertical faces for a quick windbreak. One or two good spots offer shade for a short stretch—get there early and set up a crude tarp from any available material. From mile 55 to 70 you’re into the salt flat. The flatness is a blessing; you can lay out the tarp on the lowest dune you spot. The salt will reflect heat, so a shaded, flat area is the best spot for rest. In terms of a puzzle: - Mark the riverbed as a “hydration node.” - The ridge is a “shelter node.” - The salt flat is a “rest node.” - Connect them with the cheapest path that avoids the heaviest sand. You’ll be walking the nodes while avoiding the sand’s high‑cost edges. That’s the algorithm. Now, grab a compass of your own—your senses, that is—and start. Good luck, and keep your feet on the ridge.