Night Hikes, Yes or No? Pennywise Says Hell Yeah!

The video at the top of this post is how I envision night hiking - always ready to FLEE.  As the days begin to cool and the temperatures drop, the sun dips out of sight faster and faster.

And it's *F83king* scary.  

I normally hike alone, which as a misfit hiker, already puts me on high alert thanks to the unique hazards that poses.  

This post is specifically about night hiking for beginners......who hit those dark and dusty trails all alllooooonnnne.

If you have an active imagination like I do, you literally think the worst the whole time.  Aliens.  Monsters.  There are two reoccurring images that constantly pop in to my head as I'm hiking in the complete blackness of the forest.  First, that I'll turn around and there will be someone just standing on the trail, legs slightly apart and head cocked, and they'll be staring at me.  Not moving.  Just standing.   
The second image is that someone will come running full sprint through the woods at me, like in "Get Out."

The third is it will be like the Blair Witch and I'll stumble upon a cabin in the middle of the woods.

The fourth is I'll be walking, and just keep walking.  And walking.  And walking.  And the trail won't go anywhere. Okay, so maybe more than 2....
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The Gamork

The dark has always been an awful and terrifying thing for me, every since my father terrorized my fragile five-year-old mind by stalling the car out on a wood-lined dirt road and yelling about how the Gamork (the monster in the Neverending Story was about to get us.  He'd then "manage" to get the car started and would careen down the road to our house.  You know, tender moments of parental bonding that last a lifetime.  

​But as the sun fades quicker, I don't want to find myself limited to hiking on the weekends.  I want to still be able to go after work.  

​So what do I do to prepare myself mentally and so I'm physically safe when I'm out hiking alone? 

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1. Headlamp: I bring a lightweight headlamp with me, and I make sure I have extra batteries.  I use the Black Diamond Spot Lite 160, from REI, which was a cheap $26.00 bucks and has done me well.  

2. Know Thy Trail: I wouldn't recommend doing an unfamiliar area in complete darkness.  Does it take some of the scary fun out of it?  Yes, but losing your footing on some loose shale and snapping your neck falling down a cliff will ALSO put a damper on the fun.  

​3. Choose Carefully: The trails I head out on at night are ones that are moderately difficult, but not crazily technical.  As a night-hiker beginner, I only do trails at night if I've hiked them a number of times in the light, after reading reviews and having an idea of the general safety of the area.  I also familiarize myself with the wildlife, so I know what's going to be scuttling around me.  Why take chances?

4. Cell Phone: I carry a fully charged cellphone with me so I can call for help if I need to, and it gives me a backup light.  If you're going in to really remote areas, get a personal GPS - to figure out the right one for you, check out this article from REI. 

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No idea wtf this random light was and I try not to think about it.

5.  Implements of Safety: get a small canister of pepper spray.  I won't link what I have, because it doesn't have a keychain/way to connect it, and I wish it did.  Make sure you can attach it somewhere, because the one instance I really needed it I couldn't get it out of my pocket in time.  Pepper spray will help defend against coyotes, dogs, wayward hilljacks, etc.  I carry 2 to 4 oz. I also carry a small knife.  Though the rule of thumb is if someone/something (i.e. Pennywise) can get that close to you, you're probably &^%$$ anyway.  

​6.  Hike Buddy: Make sure someone knows where you're going, when you start, and when you plan to be done. Every. Single. Time. If nothing else, they talk you down when you see crazy *&^% on the trail at night (see image on right)

7. Hiking Poles: I always use hiking poles, especially in the dark.  Helps me keep my footing, and has saved me from tripping and falling a number of times. 

​*Always take your regular gear, too, like water and a map.

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Once I'm on the trail, I check behind me at regular intervals (about every 50 feet).  I don't wear ear buds for my book on tape, for two reasons: so night runners, etc. will know there's someone else around and so I can listen more acutely.  I also keep an eye out upward for any potential deadfall (branches or trees about to come down on my head).   

You want to be extra careful during hunting season, that some yahoo poaching deer doesn't mistake you or your dog for the big kill of the season.  Be sure to check local park pages to see what's in season and when.  At night, consider reflective gear, too.

Some folks like to turn off their headlamps and hike in complete darkness.  That isn't me.  Besides my imagination, it's a safety issue for me, as I hike in areas with a lot of rocks and tree roots.  And monsters that I want to be able to see coming.  

If you're like me, and your imagination can carry you in scary, unhelpful directions, have a phrase you can repeat to redirect your attention.  I like a line from Stephen King's "The Stand" - He thrusts his fists against the post and still insist he sees the ghost.​  

And finally, have fun!  Night hiking isn't for everyone, but if you're willing to try it, it is a TOTALLY different experience.  
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I'll be sure let you know if it gets any less scary!

Do you hike at night?  Have a good story of terror in the darkness of the trail?  Have any additional tips for hiking at night or have a question? Post away or contact me here!

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