Night hiking: How to see the world in moonlight

Night hiking: How to see the world in moonlight

Night hiking does not have to be the result of a poorly planned day hike; It can be a gratifying and rewarding experience for itself.

Before they blindly march into the hills to beat in the dark before you call the search and rescue on your smartphone (which probably has an empty battery because it is used as a flashlight), prepare yourself for a safe and safe night with our guidelines for night hikes.

why night hiking?

climate radies rarely apply in Great Britain and Northern Europe, where I do most of my hikes. However, if you hike through dry or desert regions in hotter areas, it can be advantageous to cover distances in the cooler nights and to rest during the day.

Endurance hiking If you are one of these ultramarathon types that like to take distances such as the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, then you will have to do a night hike at some point. If you are more of a mortal, something like the three-Zinn challenge probably requires a night hike.

improved security competence the best plans of mice and people often go wrong, says the saying, and carefully planned day hikes and trekkings are no different. If you practice night hikes, you are better prepared to finish with the unexpected if/if day hikes go wrong.

whether they are interested in landscapes, wild animals or the observation of stars, the world can be a strange place when it gets dark. The light plays a prank, crawling and crawling comes out to play, and the night sky keeps awakening and amazed. The earth is a completely different place at night: it looks different, sounds different and smells even differently.

Alt = "Night hike-Yasur"> Atlas & Boots hiking on the Mt Yasur volcano in Vanuatu at night was a completely different experience than on Tag

Morgen summit (and sunrise) whether you are a technical height mountaineer or an amateur climber who strives for non-technical summits, at some point you have to cope with a summit morning. It is better to improve your night hiking skills at a low height than on a mountain slope with crampons on your feet and an ice ax in your hand. Oh, and hike into a sunrise: breathtaking.

before the hike

Zeitlimits, above all, make sure that you know when the sun will go under and. A quick Google search or a look at the Timeanddate.com website is enough. Modern GPS devices have installed this function, but make sure that you know before you go. Also remember that these are not fixed times and will become repeated hikes sooner or later. As with most expeditions, whether short or long, alone or in the group, you should ideally say to someone where you go and when you will probably return. Arrange fixed check-in times with this person so that you know when you have to count on calls or messages, and you always have emergency plans ready.

Be realistic is better to arrive early than too late, so play it safe and set conservative goals when it comes to distance and mileage. When you hike for the first time or tackle a new route for the first time, you will settle with ultra-conservative goals relative to your average hiking speed (see "Let your pace know").

Alt = "Ultimate Camping Checklist"> Atlas & Boots

you know your pace everyone walks at different speeds, so it is important that you know your pace. Hikers move on average between 4 and 6.5 km/h (2.5 to 4 mph) during the day. Heavy packs and wavy terrain reduce this speed. Whatever your average pace is, it is probably worth halving it when you plan a night hike.

Pack the correct equipment in a fellow Find a comprehensive equipment list. As with every hike, make sure that you have the 10 most important things first and then take a look at the equipment that is particularly suitable for night hikes. The lighting is the key, so make sure that you pack headlamps, flashlights, GPS devices and many replacement batteries for your devices. Consider invest in a form of eye protection because it will be difficult to recognize every headstrong branch or Kamikaze beetle in the dark.

also do not forget that it will be colder and moisture at night, so make sure that you have extra warm clothing as well as rain protection and suitable footwear for the terrain. Remember that frost and rope will probably form overnight, even if it doesn't rain.

Alt = "Nachtwander-GPS-Spot"> place

Plan for the emergency jeder hardcore adventurer knows the motto "Two is one, one is one". It emphasizes the need to pack a reserve for vital survival equipment - particularly important when hiking at night. A satellite phone is a reliable safety net that ensures that you can quickly reach emergency services outside of the GSM cover. We recommend the GSP-1700 from Globalstar, which offers the clearest voice quality on the market. With a price of € 490, it is not only affordable for extreme athletes, but also for less demanding hikers. Take a look at the Globalstar dealer list or get a free phone with certain packages.

on the hike

Delay the switching on your headlamp. This may sound contrary, but your eyes without support work better in the weaker light than in the bright beam of a headlamp. It takes 30 minutes for the students to be prepared for seeing in the dark, so try to switch off the light for as long as possible.

communication if you hike in a group or with a partner, make sure that you clearly communicate with each other, especially before you turn on headlamps or flashlights. A person with unexpected light can ruin the night vision of everyone around them. Every white flash of light, like someone who accidentally shines in her face with a headlamp, will reduce your pupils and reset the 30-minute clock of your night vision device mentioned above.

alt = “Nachtwanden-partner”> dream time

insert the peripheral rod. You what, buddy? Yes, your peripheral view actually works better at night. The night -sensitive peripheral stick cells are located on the edges of the retina and acclimatize better than all other receptors in the eye of weak lighting. You can activate the peripheral rod by swinging your head from one side to the other, which improves your night vision (and makes you look ridiculous).

Use your senses. Let your other senses adopt (not like a hippie), but pay particular attention to what you hear, smell and even feel. After a few minutes in the dark, you should be able to "hear" the feedback that your hiking shoes gets from the floor. How does the surface feel? Is it safe? Does what you hear contradicts what the card tells you? Of course, your instincts that are not based should not be more sensitive and adapt to your surroundings if you listen to what you have to say, you will have a simpler and safer time to navigate through the darkness.

be mindful of the wildlife around you or the flora that you stroll through, try to be as considerate as possible to your surroundings. Night -active animals do not expect that a group of wandering hikers will trample through their habitat, and are also not used to that headlamps shine in their sensitive eyes. Keep in the available paths as always and try to leave as few traces as possible.

equipment list for night hikes

The ten essential "systems"

Night hiking specifically

• headlight
• flashlight
• flashlight
• eye protection GPS device
• replacement batteries (check your devices for the correct type, ie aaa, aa, c, d etc.)
• Pet lamp (for your card)
• compass with lighting points/bezel
• pocket knife
• survival pipe
• insect preservative
• additional layers and warm clothes
• waterproof clothing (think of frost and dew that develop overnight)
• snacks and food
• drinks (warm and cold)

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