How were the travel conditions on the Silk Road?

Emma, as I know, the route traverses the central plain and the western desert areas of PRC. The climate and road condition in the central plain are pleasant. But the situation might be tough in gobi desert. Lack of water and food supply, a lot of merchants died in the midway. Besides, it is a little bit difficult to follow the right path in the desert during bad weather, many businessmen also got lost.