Night Walking: How to See the World by Moonlight

Night Walking: How to See the World by Moonlight

Night hiking doesn't have to be the result of a poorly planned day hike; it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience in itself.

Before you blindly march into the hills to thrash around in the dark, before you call search and rescue on your smartphone (which probably has a dead battery from being used as a flashlight), prepare for a safe and pleasant night with our guide to night hiking.

Why night hiking?

ClimateThis is rarely true in the UK and Northern Europe, where I do most of my hiking. However, if you are hiking through dry or desert regions in hotter areas, it may be beneficial to cover distances during the cooler nights and rest during the day.

Endurance Hiking If you're one of those ultramarathon types who likes to complete routes like the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, then you need to do a night hike at some point. If you're more of a mortal, even something like the Three Peaks Challenge probably requires a night hike.

Improved Safety SkillsThe best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, the saying goes, and carefully planned day hikes and treks are no different. By practicing night hikes, you will be better prepared to deal with the unexpected if/when day hikes go wrong.

Whether you're interested in landscapes, wildlife, or stargazing, the world can be a strange place when it gets dark. The light plays tricks on the eyes, the creeping and crawling things come out to play, and the night sky never fails to inspire awe and wonder. The Earth is a completely different place at night: it looks different, sounds different and even smells different.

alt="Nightwalk-yasur">Atlas & BootsHiking the Mt Yasur volcano in Vanuatu at night was a very different experience than during the day

Morning Summits (and Sunrises)Whether you're a technical high-altitude climber or an amateur climber aiming for non-technical summits, at some point you'll have to tackle a summit morning. It's better to hone your night hiking skills at low altitude than on a mountainside with crampons on your feet and an ice ax in your hand. Oh, and hiking into a sunrise: breathtaking.

Before the hike

Time Limits Above all, make sure you know when the sun sets and rises. A quick Google search or a look at the website timeanddate.com is enough. Modern GPS devices have this feature built in, but make sure you know it before you go. Also remember that these are not fixed times and will become sooner or later with repeated hikes. As with most expeditions, short or long, alone or in a group, you should ideally tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Arrange set check-in times with this person so they know when to expect calls or messages, and always have contingency plans in place.

Be RealisticIt's better to arrive early than late, so play it safe and set conservative goals when it comes to distance and mileage. If this is your first time hiking at night or tackling a new route, set ultra-conservative goals relative to your average hiking speed (see “Know Your Pace”).

alt="ultimate camping checklist">Atlas & Boots

Know your pace Everyone hikes at different speeds, so it's important that you know your pace. During the day, hikers move at an average speed of between 4 and 6.5 km/h (2.5 to 4 mph) over flat terrain with light packs. Heavier packs and undulating terrain reduce this speed. Whatever your average pace is, it's probably worth cutting it in half if you're planning a night hike.

Pack the Right GearBelow is a comprehensive gear list. As with any hike, make sure you have the top 10 essentials first, then look at gear specifically designed for night hikes. Lighting is key, so be sure to pack headlamps, flashlights, GPS devices, and plenty of spare batteries for your devices. Consider investing in some form of eye protection, as it will be difficult to spot any wayward tree branch or kamikaze beetle in the dark.

Also, don't forget that it will be colder and wetter at night, so make sure you have extra warm clothing as well as rain gear and appropriate footwear for the terrain. Remember that frost and dew are likely to form overnight, even if it doesn't rain.

alt="Night Hiking GPS Spot">PLACE

Plan for an Emergency Every hardcore adventurer knows the motto “Two is one, one is none.” It emphasizes the need to pack a reserve of vital survival gear – especially important when night hiking. A satellite phone is a reliable safety net that ensures you can quickly reach emergency services outside of GSM coverage. We recommend Globalstar's GSP-1700, which offers the clearest voice quality on the market. With a price of €490, it is affordable not only for extreme athletes, but also for less demanding hikers. View Globalstar's dealer list or get a free phone with certain packages.

On the hike

Delay turning on your headlamp. This may sound counterintuitive, but your unaided eyes work better in fading light than in the bright beam of a headlamp. It takes 30 minutes for students to fully adjust to seeing in the dark, so try to keep the lights off for as long as possible.

CommunicationIf you are hiking in a group or with a partner, make sure you are communicating clearly with each other, especially before turning on headlamps or flashlights. One person with unexpected light can ruin the night vision of everyone around them. Any flash of white light, like someone accidentally shining a headlamp in your face, will shrink your pupils and reset the aforementioned 30-minute clock on your night vision device.

alt=“Night hiking – partner”>Dreamtime

Insert the peripheral rod. You what, buddy? Yes, your peripheral vision actually works better at night. The night-sensitive peripheral rod cells are located at the edges of the retina and acclimate to low light conditions better than any other receptors in the eye. You can activate the peripheral bar by swinging your head from side to side, which improves your night vision (and makes you look ridiculous).

Use your senses Let your other senses take over (not like a hippie), but pay special attention to what you can hear, smell and even feel. After a few minutes in the dark, you should be able to “hear” the feedback your hiking boots are receiving from the ground. How does the surface feel? Is it safe? Does what you hear contradict what the card is telling you? Of course your non-vision based instincts should begin to become more sensitive and adapt to your surroundings, if you listen to what they have to say you will have an easier and safer time navigating the darkness.

Be mindfulWhether it's the wildlife around you or the flora you stroll across, try to be as considerate as possible to those around you. Nocturnal animals don't expect a group of roving hikers trampling through their habitat, nor are they used to headlamps shining into their sensitive eyes. As always, stick to the available paths and try to leave as few traces as possible.

Equipment list for night hikes

The ten essential “systems”

Night hiking specific

• Scheinwerfer
• Taschenlampe
• Taschenlampe
• AugenschutzGPS-Gerät
• Ersatzbatterien (überprüfen Sie Ihre Geräte auf den richtigen Typ, dh AAA, AA, C, D usw.)
• Ansteckleuchte (für Ihre Karte)
• Kompass mit Leuchtpunkten/Lünette
• Taschenmesser
• Überlebenspfeife
• Insektenschutzmittel
• Zusätzliche Schichten und warme Kleidung
• Wasserdichte Kleidung (denken Sie an Frost und Tau, die sich über Nacht entwickeln)
• Snacks und Essen
• Getränke (warm und kalt)

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