Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback! I truly value it--I have no sense of difficulty when play-testing on my own.
In the ravine, there's a hint hidden by the crows that tells you how to navigate the desert. I totally agree that it would be better if the game clearly indicated to the player that they need to gain information before entering the desert. I'm sorry you spent so long wandering, since the desert really is massive and empty. 😅
I'm glad you enjoyed the other parts of it! I hope to improve and add to it in the future.