[at-l] night hiking

[pmags at yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

My more through night hiking response. Back from Ft.
Collins (a town ~1.5 hrs from Boulder) and did my
first marathon of the season. Did my usual steady
(slow!) pace and fnished in the middle of pack.
Training for my second 50 miler next month..we'll see
how it goes! :O

Anyway...


 -- What do you like/dislike about night-hiking?

There are many facets of night hiking  I enjoy. The
beautiful sunsets I see over the Continental Divide.
The magic of finding my way back by the light of the
moon and the stars. The seeing of animals that only
come out at night.


-- How is it preferable to hiking during the day?

It is a different type of experience thay you can not
get during the day. Your senses seem so much more
alive. The crickets are a chorus, the feel and sound
of the wind against yout face. The echo of your
footsteps as you head down the trail. 


-- Do you use a headlamp sparingly, or do you
typically find one necessary? 

I try to limit my headlamp use and encourage those on
my trips to do so as well. A headlamp ruins your night
visions and detracts from the experience. Rather than
focus on the evironment you are in you tend to focus
on this narrow, partially lit world that is 5 feet in
front of you or so.  During a full moon hike, I find
head lamp is often not needed.

--What kind of headlamp do you use (for those
gear-head readers ...)

For night hiking I like my work horse: A Petzl Tikka.
Reasonably light, rugged, not that expensive. It is
the light I always have in my daypack. You never know
when you may need a headlamp!

-- What advice do you have for someone who is
interested in night-hiking but has never tried it
before?

Go on familiar terrain. Try to do it during the full
moon; you'll be amazed at how much natural moonlight
will illuminate the trail! You may want to go with an
experienced night time hiker for the first outing or
two. If you can't go with someone experienced, go with
a friend or two who is up for something different.

Going during the week is nice as well. If you have
access to local trails, a 3-4 hr hike at night can be
fun, social (if you want), great exercise and is
*MUCH* better than watching the latest episode of some
insipid sitcom!


-- Preferable terrains? Preferable trails? 

For a first time hiker, a nicely graded trail. Try
going on a trail that ends at a lake if you can. The
full moon reflecting on the water is awesome. 
(Sorry my knowledge of NC trails is limited. :-( )

-- Any good stories about a night-hiking experience
you've had?

Too many!

A few highlights:

1) A sunset hike (the one last week), where we watched
the sun setting over the distant divide. The Indian
Peaks were glowing pink with the setting sun shining
on the snow covered mountains.  As we watched the sun
set, I whipped out a stove and made chocolate fondue
for everyone. We walked back down the trail and had a
night time snowball fight with the snow lingering on
the trails from a Spring snowstorm.

2) Did a solo night hike on a local trail last month
or so. Head the coyotes yipping; could see them by the
light of the moon framed by the foothills. Awesome.

3) A winter snowshoe at night by the full moon. Clear
sky, full moon, snow almost glowing from the light
above. The peaks around me had snow swirling on their
summit. The air was crip and our footsteps and the
sound of the crunching snow was all we heard. No one
wanted to ruin the moment. It was one those magical
outdoor moments forever etched in my mind and spirit.



 Thanks!
 Waterfall (newly minted full-time freelance writer,
until August)

************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau
http://www.magnanti.com