Night hiking: Everything you need to know!

Sunset does not automatically mean that it is time to end the hike. On the contrary. Hiking at night has its specific charm and offers a completely new perspective of the route, which you thought had nothing to surprise you with.

A beautiful night sky, where, thanks to the lack of light smog, you will see much more than what you are used to from the city. The Milky Way and the thousands of stars will become your tour guide, and if you got lucky, you may see aurora borealis. Due to the lack of visual sensations, you will learn to move in nature with the help of other senses and you will get to know nature from a completely different angle, at night there are no threat of unpopular crowds on hiking trails.

At the same time, however, hiking at night naturally carries with it a whole range of risks that must not only be kept in mind, but you must be also carefully prepared for them. Probably a passer-by will not save you from the missing piece of equipment.

What will you need?

Hiking at night does not require extra specific equipment, but naturally you will need a light source. The most logical choice is a headlamp and a spare batteries. The vast majority of headlamps offer several levels of lighting setups and only exceptionally will you need the most intense one - use it to you advance, you can significantly extend battery life and avoid problems. The difference in energy consumption between the various lighting levels is more radical than it might seem at first glance.

If you have no experience with hiking at night, it is advisable to go on the first night hikes in the summer, when the nights are relatively short, thus reducing the risk of being stuck without a light source. But it can also be interesting to time your hike to the full moon, which will give you extra light, so you won't have to use your headlamp so intensely. Also, if you allow your eyes to adjust to the night, you may find that you will hardly need the headlamp during the full moon.

Of course, it is also important to keep in mind that the nights can be cold even in the summer and adjust the clothes accordingly. Use layering principles that will allow you to customize your outfit according to the conditions:

1. Base layer - Breathable T-shirt, preferably made of merino wool.
2. Middle layer - Fleece jacket, which is breathable and warms at the same time.
3. Top layer - Waterproof and windproof jacket.

What to watch out for during the first night hike?

The biggest enemy during night hiking, specifically in your first experience, is more your mind than lack of light. Suddenly you can hear sounds all around you that you are not used to, with the headlamp only illuminating the road in front of you. It is so easy to panic in such a situation and feel threatened in every single moment. With friends, you will not only partially avoid this problem, but it will also be much more fun. Being alone in nature is a wonderful feeling and provides the perfect space to clear your thoughts, but the night is specific in this regard.

Due to the lack of light, it can also very easily happen that you miss the sign or turn and get lost. In addition, it is very easy not to notice a stone or tree root on the ground, which can lead to unpleasant injuries. For night hiking, the most suitable locations are, which you know and have already walked through them in daylight. If you are in a new environment, you will be better able to orient yourself in the open space than in a dark forest. Therefore, slow down so that you do not miss anything, have a charged phone with you in case of need, a smartwatch with navigation will also help, which will be able to direct you back to your intended journey. And don't forget to tell someone exactly where you're going.

Watch out for wildlife. Wildlife is active especially at night, and due to the minimal movement of people, you are more likely to run into an animal. So be careful - an unexpectedly close encounter with a bear or a wild boar might not turn out well. It is appropriate to be a little noisier and make yourself known in the woods.

Conclusion

This is the most basic information with which you can handle any night out in the nature. Do not rush anywhere, enjoy the peace, be careful where you go and the reward will be not only the destination of your journey, but especially an experience that will not be forgotten. And which you will probably want to repeat soon.