Why I Like Hiking At Night
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Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Al
I love your videos Dixie. There are some obvious dangers to hiking at night, but I could get run over by a bus on my way across the city tomorrow as well. In the mid eighties I was a wilderness canoe ranger in Quetico provincial park in Ontario, Canada with five other people. Our boss contacted us and asked us to to make our way to another ranger station as soon as possible. While we knew he didn't mean that we should pack up and leave that night, we couldn't get the idea out of our heads, so we found ourselves packed an hour later and ready for a 60km (40 mile) paddle/ portage to Cache lake station by 11: 00 pm that night. It was the end of June with a full moon, the longest day of the year, and a clear sky. We watched as the sun never quite set and then rose again. We navigated by silhouettes of shoreline and trees through some new territory and some familiar. By 07: 00 we greeted our warden at Cache Lake, to his great surprise. Crazy, maybe, but I'd do it again. Awesome experience.
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I love your videos Dixie. There are some obvious dangers to hiking at night, but I could get run over by a bus on my way across the city tomorrow as well. In the mid eighties I was a wilderness canoe ranger in Quetico provincial park in Ontario, Canada with five other people. Our boss contacted us and asked us to to make our way to another ranger station as soon as possible. While we knew he didn't mean that we should pack up and leave that night, we couldn't get the idea out of our heads, so we found ourselves packed an hour later and ready for a 60km (40 mile) paddle/ portage to Cache lake station by 11: 00 pm that night. It was the end of June with a full moon, the longest day of the year, and a clear sky. We watched as the sun never quite set and then rose again. We navigated by silhouettes of shoreline and trees through some new territory and some familiar. By 07: 00 we greeted our warden at Cache Lake, to his great surprise. Crazy, maybe, but I'd do it again. Awesome experience.
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Flashahol
I feel like I invented night hiking.
It started in a large city park I knew too well and worked it up to easy-ish national park trails. YES, it is a lot of fun and a whole lot more fun with friends. I still go to my local woods area at night. It is an experience everyone should try, even if it is in flat woods. Matter of fact is that one of the parks I used to camp at and night hike twice every summer now offers a guided night hike and they've since been booked a year ahead just for that.
Just make sure you know what wildlife is active in the area at night, what type of terrain you will encounter and use your judgment. Oh, and always bring a good headlamp AND bright flashlight, cause trees can look like giant spiders.
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I feel like I invented night hiking.
It started in a large city park I knew too well and worked it up to easy-ish national park trails. YES, it is a lot of fun and a whole lot more fun with friends. I still go to my local woods area at night. It is an experience everyone should try, even if it is in flat woods. Matter of fact is that one of the parks I used to camp at and night hike twice every summer now offers a guided night hike and they've since been booked a year ahead just for that.
Just make sure you know what wildlife is active in the area at night, what type of terrain you will encounter and use your judgment. Oh, and always bring a good headlamp AND bright flashlight, cause trees can look like giant spiders.
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Thomas
Dixie,
I concur.
Every January I lead a small group of hikers on a winter night hike (just after sunset) up to the AMC Lonesome Lake Hut in Franconia Notch NH. The hut is open 24/7/365 but we don't stay overnight but visit the hut for a while, cross the frozen lake and enjoy the dark stillness of night in the woods. They do light the wood stove on winter evenings which is welcoming. The years that we have snow falling during the hike make for an almost magical evening. It's a very popular trail in the daytime but mostly all to ourselves at night. Winter hiking gets us use to hiking in darkness due to the short day light hours. Not many animals on the trail on winter nights. no bugs either.
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Dixie,
I concur.
Every January I lead a small group of hikers on a winter night hike (just after sunset) up to the AMC Lonesome Lake Hut in Franconia Notch NH. The hut is open 24/7/365 but we don't stay overnight but visit the hut for a while, cross the frozen lake and enjoy the dark stillness of night in the woods. They do light the wood stove on winter evenings which is welcoming. The years that we have snow falling during the hike make for an almost magical evening. It's a very popular trail in the daytime but mostly all to ourselves at night. Winter hiking gets us use to hiking in darkness due to the short day light hours. Not many animals on the trail on winter nights. no bugs either.
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ron
Interesting video. I've spent countless hours hiking at night: on my way to and from climbs, to and from hunts. I've had to start or finish in the dark, or walk all night, because of some exigency.
I can't think of one time that I would not rather have been covering that ground in daylight. In the dark, you can't see much, photography is very difficult. If you're moving, your vision is confined to the limit of your headlamp. If you turn off your light to enjoy the stars and the ambience of darkness, you can't move efficiently.
On long backpacks I often get up in the dark and hike at dawn. But I'm out there to SEE stuff.
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Interesting video. I've spent countless hours hiking at night: on my way to and from climbs, to and from hunts. I've had to start or finish in the dark, or walk all night, because of some exigency.
I can't think of one time that I would not rather have been covering that ground in daylight. In the dark, you can't see much, photography is very difficult. If you're moving, your vision is confined to the limit of your headlamp. If you turn off your light to enjoy the stars and the ambience of darkness, you can't move efficiently.
On long backpacks I often get up in the dark and hike at dawn. But I'm out there to SEE stuff.
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imran
yesterday I went for a night hiking, in Margalla hills Islamabad Pakistan track 3. I started at 12 pm at night and at first I was a little worried, but after a while the confidence level increased and and I reach the end point top at 2 midnight and I was alone only light I had was my cell phone light, that make me more bold and confidence, I experienced, mosquitoes, mostly and flies, spiders but no animal during the whole journey, I enjoyed a lot specially stars in the skies and lights in the city, no animal came in my way. The mobile battery went increased
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yesterday I went for a night hiking, in Margalla hills Islamabad Pakistan track 3. I started at 12 pm at night and at first I was a little worried, but after a while the confidence level increased and and I reach the end point top at 2 midnight and I was alone only light I had was my cell phone light, that make me more bold and confidence, I experienced, mosquitoes, mostly and flies, spiders but no animal during the whole journey, I enjoyed a lot specially stars in the skies and lights in the city, no animal came in my way. The mobile battery went increased
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Multidimensional
I usually do my camping/hiking in new hampshire Appalachian trail in black bear country. Is night hiking still ok in black bear country with two dogs? I dont think it is but this vid says otherwise. Whats your opinion on this? I am a noob on this as im not in military anymore and not with a team but now alone but learned enough to survive and stay safe but there is always room for improvement
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I usually do my camping/hiking in new hampshire Appalachian trail in black bear country. Is night hiking still ok in black bear country with two dogs? I dont think it is but this vid says otherwise. Whats your opinion on this? I am a noob on this as im not in military anymore and not with a team but now alone but learned enough to survive and stay safe but there is always room for improvement
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John
Hi Dixie, I am one of your newest followers. Just getting into hiking, so I haven't done any night hiking yet, but I have done a lot of night bike riding, kayaking, and cross county skiing. There is something special about the night, thinks just look and feel different, trails I have been on a hundred times, seem new. Really enjoy your videos, and have learned a lot from you.
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Hi Dixie, I am one of your newest followers. Just getting into hiking, so I haven't done any night hiking yet, but I have done a lot of night bike riding, kayaking, and cross county skiing. There is something special about the night, thinks just look and feel different, trails I have been on a hundred times, seem new. Really enjoy your videos, and have learned a lot from you.
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Eis
As long as the moon isn't chasing me. I might give it a go; -. When deer have their mating season it's the best time in the woods. You can hear the males making their sounds. calling out other males and sometimes you hear them fighting. One time an owl crossed our way. almost unreal. no sound, nothing. Beware of wild hogs, they might attack, specifically when having piglets.
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As long as the moon isn't chasing me. I might give it a go; -. When deer have their mating season it's the best time in the woods. You can hear the males making their sounds. calling out other males and sometimes you hear them fighting. One time an owl crossed our way. almost unreal. no sound, nothing. Beware of wild hogs, they might attack, specifically when having piglets.
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ThatOneDude702
I love going out at night, but like someone else commented; Mountain lions freak me out. I wont think twice about the stuff near my feet like snakes and scorpions, but big cats that won't be seen until they want to be. no thanks. I'm actively trying to take my unreasonable fear of mountain lions down to just a reasonable awareness. It's worth it for the stars.
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I love going out at night, but like someone else commented; Mountain lions freak me out. I wont think twice about the stuff near my feet like snakes and scorpions, but big cats that won't be seen until they want to be. no thanks. I'm actively trying to take my unreasonable fear of mountain lions down to just a reasonable awareness. It's worth it for the stars.
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