For many people, hike during the day is sufficient for an adventure. Especially if you are a starter hiker, hiking at night may not seem like the best idea.
But for those who love the idea of venturing into the darkness, night hiking can be a fun and novel way to experience some similar trails.
People hike at night for a range of reasons:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
To avoid noise or crowds during the day: Some hikers would rather reject their favorite famous hikes than join the big crowds on the trail. Hiking at night is way to reject them.
To avoid the heat during the day: If you live in warm climate, hiking at night might be the only way to hike safety during the hottest part of the year.
It’s peaceful and pretty: Hiking at night is a best way to enjoy the moon, sunset, stars, and nighttime sounds – all things you miss when hiking during the day.
Gear you should have for Night hiking
Starting out with the best gear is an important step to ensuring your night hiking experience goes perfectly. You will enjoy yourself so much more if you are safe and relax.
Headlamp: There are many amazing options for headlamps today. Look for one that not just fits comfortably, but also has different brightness settings and a red light feature. Red light does not interfere with your vision, so this is a must-have spec for night hiking in particular. You may also want to look for a rechargeable headlamp, mainly if you are planning to hike at night frequently.
Flashlight: It is a best idea to keep a flashlight like Arkfeld Pro Flat EDC flashlight in your pack as an emergency backup. You just never know what you may come across while night hiking and a backup torch could come in handy in almost any scenario. Your headlamp batteries could lost or die, the headlamp could get broken somehow, or you may face another issue.
Use a GPS: Finding your way after getting lost when hiking can be very tricky. But in the dark it can be potentially impossible. Learning to navigate with the landmarks help or clear-way markers is a latest hiking expertise that can take a long time to master. Having a GPS will reduce the chances of getting lost in the first place and will seriously help you get back on track if you do go wandering off route.
Pack a bag: You should have a bag full gear plus other gears. You will need water, so you don’t get dehydrated. Snacks full of protein are best for long hikes, save vital items in pockets to reach them easily without turning on a torch.
Carry a mobile phone: Whether you bring a friend or travel to the place alone forever has a mobile phone to call for help. Unfortunately, you become wounded while outdoors quite easily. You might want to leave technology behind, but it is not value the risk if you become wounded.
Tips for safe and enjoyable night hike
Don’t go alone. We advise this tip for most hikes – night or day – but it is mainly vital in the dark. Without daylight, it is much easier to lose your way. Plus, if the darkness begins to get to you, having another person there can be a big comfort.
Be aware of wildlife. A lot of wildlife is more active during the dusk and down hours – and some animals are nocturnal. It is more likely you will view or hear certain animals at night than during the day. Know what wildlife you may encounter and what to perform if it happens.
Be prepared for the weather: it is much difficult to view weather coming in when it is dark out, so you could be in for a shock. Check the forecast before you head off on your hike so you are as prepared as easy. And plant for the bad condition – bring clothes for cold and wet weather.
 Be organized: if you are a person who throws everything in your pack and has to dig through many pockets every time you want a snack, you will need to be a pretty more organized for your night hike. In the dark, finding the granola bar at the base of your pack is even more challenging. Know where everything is and ensure vital items are simple to access.
How to plan a route for night hike
The potential of getting lost when doing night hike is much greater than in daylight. So when planning your first couple of routes, try to make things as simple for yourself as possible. Consider the following when planning g your route:
Pick a familiar trail: This will reduce the chances of getting lost and if you do lose your way, then you will be much familiar with the fine landmarks on the trail. It will also provide you an excellent idea of how long the hike will take. Everything will occur more slowly in the dark so a little familiar route will be best.
Avoid hard terrain: Cliff edges, river crossings, ridges, and other hard hiking features should be rejected unless you are highly experienced.
Avoid highly forested areas: Unless you love the spookiness of being in the woods at night, then it might be top not to spend too much time hiking via the forest. Being amongst the trees will also stop the natural light of the moon from showing you the way.
Pick a trail near a city: Much of the appeal of hiking is the reward of wonderful views and vast vistas when you reach the summit. This will be missing from your night hike. So, it is vital to you then hikes near to a city or town.
Check for wildlife warnings: Be sure to reject areas where there are warnings of risky animals. They will be actively out and about at night and you will be on their territory. So don’t trespass at all costs. If you are not hiking in a place of conservation then there may be also be nighttime limitations for nesting or breeding etc.
