I second the idea of shorter loops and such, and here's why. Desert backpacking is unlike other places, for you can get into a really good or bad headspace, depending. There are lots of things that can play with your imagination in the desert, and being alone way out there can sometimes be spooky. I've camped and packed alone much of my life and I can still get weirded out, and I don't consider myself superstitious even a little bit - I don't believe in any of it. But when I'm out there all alone, well, I could come up with some of the best campfire stories anyone could ever think of. And I've found mtn. lion tracks circling my tent (Cedar Mesa) and things like that, not my imagination, so there's real stuff, too. It's never stopped me, but there have been a few nights I just had to force myself to go to sleep.
I worked with a guy who fancied himself Hayduke's brother. He lived to backpack alone, spent three weeks on the Paria, the Escalante, all that. Went out every chance he could. He was very pragmatic. He always carried a gun on his hip when he went out - he said it was so people would see it and leave him alone, as he was way into solitude. I remember him coming back from the Escalate one time totally freaked out - he said he'd been followed by Bigfoot. He was dead serious. I didn't even know he believed in Bigfoot. He quit his job in W. Colorado and took a job in the heart of Denver after that and quit going out.
Having shorter loops can give you an out when your mind starts playing tricks on you - or maybe it's all real???? [cue Twilight Zone music] But to me, that's part of the fun, knowing I'm not necessarily at the top of the food chain, but there are times I'm glad to get back and reset my imagination to neutral. I've never felt like I was at risk from aliens or Bigfoot or anything supernatural, but I know a lot of backpackers who go through those thoughts, even though in the light of the day we all scoff at the idea of such being real. I'm hesitant to post this, but here goes...