Having lived in a desert area for some time, let me give you my motto:
Look before you step!
        It works in forests, mountains (where you need hand-holds) and crowded
super-markets.
        There are critters other than snakes that you really don't want to
blunder into: stinging insects, spider webs, hawthorn thorns, etc. step
lightly and look around. As TR once said: speak softly and carry a big
stick. I'm sure he was a snail-hunter.
        Art