February 27, 2025 • 41 mins
Hiking after dark adds an entirely new challenge to the trail, and while we typically try to avoid it, sometimes it’s unavoidable - or even intentional for those who enjoy night hiking. In this episode of Shawn & Mike Take A Hike, we’re diving into everything you need to know about hiking at night safely, whether you’re caught on the trail after sunset or purposely setting out for a nighttime adventure.
We’ll cover essential gear like headlamps, flashlights, and reflective clothing, plus tips on navigating in low light to avoid hazards like roots, rocks, and sudden drop-offs. We’ll also talk about pacing yourself in the dark, avoiding disorientation, and understanding how your eyes adjust to the night.
From wildlife encounters to temperature drops, night hiking presents unique challenges - so we’ll break down strategies for staying aware, making yourself visible to others, and ensuring you’re prepared for any surprises the trail might throw your way.
If you’ve ever wondered how to hike safely after sunset or what to do if you get stuck on the trail in the dark, this episode is for you. Tune in now and get the confidence to tackle the trail - even after the sun goes down!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I'm Shawn and I'm Mike and you're listening to Shawn and Mike take a hike
(00:18):
Welcome to another episode of Shawn and Mike take a hike. What are we gonna talk about today Mike?
today we talk a little bit about something that you and I haven't really done but
Good to end up happening in the future if things don't go 100% as planned
But getting into night hiking or hiking after the sun sets and it's getting dark
(00:41):
Yeah, so
We ran into those girls on our very first trip and it was getting dark
Our fire was going and we could barely see each other and they come wandering past and it's like
You guys okay?
Well, and I mean we've talked on other episodes about like I think it maybe was on our planning episode or I don't know
(01:08):
What episode but like?
Realistically my advice is don't do it, you know, right? Yeah, if you could avoid it at all
Yeah
now I I get like there might be like certain maybe you're going out on the trail because you
want to see the stars or maybe you're
Wandering away from camp because you want to go down to this lake or whatever to you know
(01:31):
Watch a meteor shower or whatever or you might be wandering away from camp just because you got to use the bathroom
You know, so there's like you might wind up getting away from camp at night, right? But realistically I
Yes, you and I have not done true nighttime hiking. I stick by my original statement. We're like
Don't do it like I feel like it's especially if you are brand new right like because the whole premise of this podcast
(01:56):
When you and I started this this was like amateur hiking advice for amateur hikers, right?
I think if you are new and starting out
The general rule right thumb I'm sticking with it. I'm saying don't hike at night until you get comfortable hiking during the day
right
Yeah, for sure like it's it's a scary like just the whole visibility thing like
(02:19):
Your whole line of sight and what you can and cannot see
Yes, I mean you're taking equipment that allows you to you know, you're taking a flashlight or a headlamp or whatever but
That doesn't illuminate a hundred percent of
Of your viewing area like type of however, I don't know how I want to say that but it doesn't eliminate everything
(02:41):
I think it makes it I mean even the stuff that it does illuminate
So, I mean not to get ahead of ourselves with like what what tools
to take but
Let's say a headlamp right like you got a headlamp on I still think that makes it even harder than
Hiking during the day
You're gonna get weird shadows. You're not really gonna be able to have the same depth perception that you have like during the daytime
(03:05):
It is going to make it harder to hike at night
now I'm not so naive as to think like
You and I can do as much planning as we want to
and
There could still be a scenario where you get stuck out hiking longer than you anticipated hiking so
Yeah, I would say plan for the possibility of hiking after dark
(03:31):
Right, but try your damnedest not to be hiking after dark, especially when you're brand new
You know, you could get a late start on the trail like the day of your you know
It's night two or day two and you you're waking up from camp
You're moving a little slow, whatever you get a late start. You've got 10 miles to go
And that takes you 12 hours. Let's say you're it's just a really slow day. Whatever and okay
(03:55):
There there are going to be instances where you it's just unavoidable and you end up on out there at night
We try to plan accordingly so that doesn't happen but like you said it could so well or I mean even
You could be exhausted. Maybe you have to take more rest breaks than you anticipated
Maybe like you said, maybe you got a late start that day
(04:17):
For whatever reason maybe you know you hit traffic on the way to the trail or you're already out on the trail
And you're getting a late start because you
You know
Didn't set an alarm that day and wound up sleeping later than you did like there are scenarios
I'm not so you know
I get it like it could happen but
To the best of your ability
(04:39):
Try to not let it happen, especially when you're brand new like if you are a season hiker
You're comfortable with the trail. Maybe it's a trail you've been on before
You know it like the back of your hand at this point. You want to see it at night
You want to like challenge yourself in that way?
Maybe it's the dead of summer and you're doing it because it's like too hot to hike during the day like I can see
(05:00):
There might be scenarios where you wind up hiking at night
It just don't think for a newbie. That's the best time to do it. But again, right
Plan for the possibility so that if the sun does go down
You've got all the tools that you need to still make it safely to camp. Absolutely
Yeah, so I guess why don't we get into like some of the
Equipment or the necessary things that will help you if you find yourself
(05:25):
Out there after dark and I mean everybody we've already talked about it at the beginning
I prefer rechargeable things. So you don't have to bring extra batteries
You just bring an extra battery pack like a recharging pack
Sure, but if you don't have a rechargeable headlamp or a flashlight bring an extra set of batteries
Just in case you're out there for longer than you need to yes. Here's more weight, but it's
(05:52):
It can save you
Here's my only hot take on that so I agree. I like rechargeable much more than I like disposable batteries
Yeah, however
I will give it to like bringing extra batteries for like not a rechargeable thing because you can like immediately swap and keep going
True where if you're using if you're using a rechargeable you've got a downtime period where you need to wait for that to recharge
(06:19):
So you can't just go and just go and just go and just go and just go and just go and just go
But it's just like you're using it for a long period of time
So you're not going to have to wait for that to recharge. So that is fair
I don't really know which one is better like for you and I with the way we plan and the luck we've had so far
The rechargeable one works better for us because we are typically not needing it at night. We're using it for short periods of time
(06:43):
For you know to go to the bathroom to go down to the lake to go whatever
It's not a good idea to recharge it or overnight to recharge it because we're not using it for a long period of time
but if you are truly legitimately like
Couldn't make it to camp before sunset and need to use it to get there
I can see the benefit of using one that has a swap out battery because then you can now you can get rechargeable
(07:09):
Swap out batteries. So maybe that's a way to go through. Yep mocha
Usb rechargeable double a batteries and all that sort of stuff. So maybe you could do the best of both worlds
I don't know figure out what works well for you and how much weight you want to carry how much weight you want to carry?
Exactly, right
But I will say like to go back to the headlamp thing
(07:30):
Flashlights are great and all but let's be honest like if you're out doing this for hiking and you're planning to hike at night
I'm gonna suggest the headlamp over a
Flashlight just because you're absolutely using your hands. Yeah, you know you strap it on your head. You're good to go
And most headlamps
Will have a red light mode
(07:52):
Right. Yes
So for anybody that's not familiar with like red light
The whole thought behind red light as far as I understand it and mike you can correct me if i'm wrong on this one
But it's like to give you enough light to navigate by
But it's not as harsh of a light so your pupils don't dilate as much
(08:14):
Right. So when you turn it off you can see so if you turn it off you can see it's not like you're not getting that like
Harsh reflection into your eyeball that's making your pupils freak out. You just you just do the pirate thing and you wear an eye patch
Well, you could do the pirate thing and wear an eye patch. That's another thing you could do
It's more of like an advanced thing in my opinion
(08:35):
Now you're hiking with one eye
Yeah, so those are all great things but a light source of some sorts so you can
See the trail
I'll bet you that you're on and the biggest thing that you want to see is the the trail markers
whether it's a blue blaze on the nct or
There's signage whatever you want to be able to keep an eye out for when you're hiking
(09:00):
an eye out for where you got to turn or what way the the path is going and
You also want to be able to find the ground
So, you know, is there is it going to start going downhill uphill? Is there a tree rut?
Anything like that that's going to be sticking up that you need to actually step over
Anything like that any obstacles so
(09:23):
But yeah, that's the reason for that
um, another thing that I have on mine not to jump ahead and
Move on too quickly. Did you have anything else or did you want to have something?
I mean just for gear the only other thing that I have under gear like to help you prepare
is
I have uh
(09:46):
I don't know what you actually glow in the dark sticks. What are those called like uh glow sticks or marker lights?
Yeah, so
what are your thoughts on that like you and I take glow sticks as a
Nightlight type of a thing as a nightlight type of thing or as like a backup for camp
(10:06):
I can also see that coming
In as useful
Clip it to your back
Yeah, well or even like I mean it does throw off enough light. I think you could probably navigate with that
So yeah, if your batteries died or you did have a rechargeable headlamp that died you could use that as a backup option
Yep. Yep. I don't think it's a great one
(10:28):
But they do glow for a long time like it's not going to be as good as a headlamp or as good as a flashlight
but if you are using it in
What I maybe it's not truly an emergency, but what I'm going to call an emergency situation
or
maybe
Maybe you might even wind up saying like, okay
I'm clearly not going to make it to wherever I was planning to camp tonight
(10:51):
But I need to set up camp here where I'm at just in the middle of the trail
At least if you had a glow stick that could like illuminate your immediate surroundings
That would give you some light to set up camp by or possibly cook by
Well, and that you know, it'll alert anybody that's coming down the trail as well that there is somebody there
And that you know, they're not just coming up on somebody with all of a sudden with a bright flashlight or whatever
(11:17):
Right and they're surprised. So
Yeah, I did have that on my on my list as well
From my research most of the time it recommends using it as a marker for
Clipping on your pack so you can identify groups if you get separated a little bit there a little bit farther ahead
You know where they're at and you can see that. Yeah. Yeah, that's a that's a great idea. So
(11:39):
Yeah, because you should be able to see that from a little ways away. It's not like super harsh light
So it's not going to affect your ability to see if you're like just trying to follow somebody with one of those on it
I think it's it's one of those things where they are usually
lightweight enough
Throwing in your backpack like multi-use type of thing. I take one every trip. We take one every time
(12:02):
Just in case takes up no space
They last for a long time
Both like once you crack them, they do a lot of light but then also like it if you don't use it
It's not like, you know, it's got an expiration date of like two weeks from now, right?
It's an easy thing to just throw in your pack, right? But even okay, so then even with that
Let's say you've got your glow stick
(12:25):
You should still be able to like again. They are not super bright, right? Like they're not gonna like
It's not a search later a spotlight or whatever
But even with a glow stick, you're going to be able to look at your map. You're going to be able to look at your compass
You're going to be able to get your GPS with it like it is giving enough light to look at your essential things
Yeah, I think it's worth throwing in your pack. I mean on every trip always take one
(12:48):
The other thing that I that I like that I take because my headlamp isn't always necessarily readily available
I probably should put it in one of my top pockets or top pouches. So it's more easily accessible. Yeah, but
I always have my
Lantern my solar rechargeable lantern
That's dangling off of that and that is collapsible. So it shows throws the light whichever, you know, however
(13:12):
Collapse down you have it. It's got different light modes on it
So that's always a backup option too or can be used as one of those
Markers on the back of my pack too. So you'd be able to see me
Yeah, and that option and that little lantern that Mike has we have a lot of
That right on our website like that truly is like a great thing. It's got a little solar panel on it
(13:33):
To somewhat recharge the battery during the day
So you don't have to worry about taking extra batteries and all the things like that is
Especially if you are unexpectedly at night great. Yeah, you have super good idea
Yep
So the other thing that I have on my list of things that you want to take in case you're out at after dark is like
Reflective clothing or reflective gear. So if you don't if you don't have one of those lights on you
(13:58):
if somebody's shining a flashlight looking for you that reflectiveness will
and
Shining and they make you more
Visible to them. Yeah, I think that's a great idea like definitely
Especially if you think there's a possibility that you'll be out after dark. Yeah
This is the day to wear your bright color clothing
(14:19):
This is the day like if you've got reflective stuff clip that's the to the outside of you
This is not the day to wear your camel, right?
Or like your jet black clothing
This is the day if you feel if you got a late start or you're taking more breaks
Then you thought you were gonna and you're like getting close to sunset
This is the time to get on that like bright colored gear
(14:40):
Especially if you're if you're a solo hiker, that's maybe its own thing
But like Mike and I have talked about it before
That's maybe its own thing but like Mike and I have talked in the past about like safety and numbers and all that sort of stuff
If it's gonna if the sun's gonna go down put your bright colored clothing on so that you can at least
Keep in contact with each other in the event that you know
(15:00):
One person goes around a bend and maybe the other person didn't see that bend help you find each other a lot better
Absolutely
Um the the other stuff that I have on my list
I don't know what else you have on on yours for the gear to take
But I mean everything else is pretty much gear that you're going to be taking anyway
Or you should be that we mentioned in our gear episode. So i'll just kind of
(15:21):
Blossom over them like a map and compass or in or a gps like right know how to get to where you're going
an emergency emergency whistle and
This one does say layered clothing if you're gonna be getting in there out there at night
Depending on the climate you're in like if you're out west
and it's like
100 degrees in the during the day, but it drops to like 60 at night
(15:43):
Yeah, you want different layers of clothing for that. So
Take that kind of stuff here in michigan where we're going if it gets up to 80 during the day
Depending on the time of year, but when you and I typically go
It's gonna get to like the mid 60s at night
Like it's not as drastic of a change but just I mean that's another part of your planning though
(16:05):
Is make sure you know what the weather and temperature is going to be so you can pack accordingly
so well and I didn't think about the whistle, I mean the whistle is a good thing to
A it's a good thing to have
At all times of your hike, but yeah, that's a good point to make like
If you're not normally wearing your whistle around your neck
Maybe if you're going out at night or it's starting to get dark
(16:28):
Maybe that whistle out and put it around night time is definitely definitely the time to do it
So I hadn't thought of that but then and then this isn't necessarily gear related
But kind of one of the things that you said made me think of it
Have if some of this stuff is not usually usually in your most readily accessible spot in your pack
right
(16:48):
Maybe playing ahead and get it in like the most right user friendly quickly accessible part of your pack. That's a good
Rethink the way you pack especially for that day if that risk is coming if it's getting dark
And you know, you've got four miles to go
Stop take a break reassess move things around in your pack
(17:09):
That is and real quick get them where you're going to need them or get them out and prepare for dark right then in there
Don't wait till it's dark to do it wait like get prepared as you see like oh shit. I'm running out of time
I mean realistically even if it is starting to get dark and you're like, oh, I'm sure I'll make it to camp
I'm sure it's right up around this bend like I'm almost there
(17:29):
I don't need to prepare like, you know
You could do your best preparing but sometimes your mileage is off like oh
If it is starting to get dark and you think you can make it plan for not making it
I mean and it's only happened to you and I like once or twice where the mileage
Expectation was shorter than what we plan. It's usually a half to a mile further
(17:51):
right, so
Right, I mean what you can plan to the best of your ability once in a while your mileage is going to be off
Or the campsite isn't exactly where they thought was going to be on the map or whatever
But yes, I mean get your stuff ready
prepare to be out at night and then
Worst case scenario you wasted five minutes putting stuff where it was readily accessible
(18:13):
But then you get to camp you're still gonna have to set up at camp
You're probably gonna need that headlamp or your glow stick or all that stuff
Anyway, now it's readily accessible right on the top of your pack when you get there, right? Yep. Absolutely
That's all I have as far as equipment
I've got some
Benefits of hiking after dark that I looked up
(18:34):
Okay, and how to do it safely a little bit
So do you have any other equipment before we move on to this? No, I'm no
Curious what you've got to say about this and I might have commentary with it
But right, so I'll just kind of go a little bit quickly because like I said there there are benefits
but these are things in my opinion that
you can do by getting to camp during the day and going for a
(19:01):
Weightless not weight free but weight less
Or less weight
Out and back to go a mile or whatever like stargazing
You know, you don't want to be out there anything like that with your full pack and you still got to set up tent and all
that
But or if it's just an out and back and you're a quote unquote day hike, but you're purposely doing it at night
(19:24):
So you have a better night sky then that's that's another thing like so there is a benefit to that
I mentioned the cooler temperatures if you're out west or in a hotter climate anything like that
Once the Sun goes down, we know that the the temperatures drop as well. Yep, if you don't like people and
You're in an area where?
(19:45):
You've got crowded trails usually at night. You're gonna have fewer people on the trails. So there's a benefit there
You can get a different perspective of if like if you're really familiar with a trail
Hiking it at night can create a different perspective on you know, things you see
Animals are gonna be different you get the nocturnal animals that come out in the daytime animals go to bed things like that
(20:10):
That's pretty much the benefits like I said, I think 90% of those are a
more of a hiking and not a backpacking thing. Yeah, so
But that is
Those were just some of the things I found and I'm like well a lot of these we would do after we got to camp
(20:32):
Right. That's the thing and and to go back to like
originally
Most of the advice that you and I give on this podcast are
for
Begin beginners. You don't know the trail or new ish people. Yeah
the wanting some solitude the
Get a different perspective to me that is a more advanced thing. Yeah, you are doing more experience. Yeah for sure
(20:59):
Once you are comfortable being a hiker or backpacker and you want to start exploring those additional things or some of those different perspectives
I'm not saying never do it
I'm just saying like a new person like I wouldn't would not plan my first trip ever to be a night height, right?
And I don't even know that I want to play on a night hike per se I mean maybe a hike but not a bank coming
(21:22):
Coming from the guy that wants to do winter backpacking. You're saying you wouldn't do it at night. I
Would plan on being out
Especially the snow and everything on the ground and a little bit harder to move around. I
Think I would I would want to do that during the day
We do have shorter days in the winter so you have to plan a little bit differently
(21:45):
But I would try to do it at during the day
But I would like to do winter camping her back. Okay, different episode but
But but I will say like the
The nighttime like wanting to go look at the stars like you and I did that up at picture rocks
We left our campsite and walked down to the lake to watch look at the stars down there
(22:08):
We left our camp one night because we wanted to go down to the shore Lake Superior to look for you per lights
Like you and I have done that
right, but even with that it was a
The way you and I did it was we got to camp while it was still daylight
We took the path that we needed to take down to the lake so that we could familiarize ourselves with that route
(22:30):
Yeah came back and then once nighttime got there
Then we went and redid it with headlamps but we already kind of knew where we were going
Yep, and we knew it was only you know a 10-minute walk down to the lake in a 10-minute walk back
So we knew our headlights were gonna last that long. So again
We
(22:51):
Planned to be doing that had the supplies that we needed. It wasn't all just like willy-nilly
And get out there and hope for the best like I mean, it's it's definitely a
It is more dangerous to do and it is harder to do. Oh for sure
Try to plan ahead for it. Try to not get caught out there unexpectedly doing it, right?
(23:13):
Yeah, it's it's like you said when you're brand new
It's not like you're gonna have experience on that
Even if you have a little bit of experience on your belt and most people try to do different sections of the trail or different
Trails in general. So you if you're newer you probably have a little bit of experience
If you're newer, you probably you don't know the trail like the back of your hand
(23:33):
so right it's more dangerous to be going when you
Don't know the terrain and you don't know where the bends and the turns and all this stuff are so
well, and even one of the other things that you touched on like one of the
What you're gonna call a benefit? I'm gonna call one of the dangers
So like you had mentioned like one of the cool quote-unquote cool things or whatever that you could see is okay
(23:57):
You get to see different wildlife at night. Well, right? Yeah
Right that is one of the dangerous cool you like your yeah
As well
Your coyotes are night animals your bears are night animals, I mean there's just some of the
(24:18):
nighttime creatures that are out about
You maybe don't want to come across at night
realistically, yeah, so
As much as you and I have said like on other episodes where you know
Be respectful of other people when you're out on the trail and try not to make too much noise and all this and that and the other
Well, if you do
(24:38):
Unexpectedly find yourself out at night and you hadn't planned on being out there at night, right?
This might be a time to make a little bit more noise than usual so that you are not sneaking up on some of these
Nighttime animals and right startling them or letting them startle you
Well in that case too, if you do disturb somebody that's out there and you are not necessarily lost
(25:01):
But you are in the backcountry at night. You can't see shit if you stumble upon
Somebody then okay, you're either a you're on the right track and this is a campsite that you know is on the map
Or be they might be nice enough to say just pitch your tenant right here and figure it out in the morning
like type of a thing so right um
(25:24):
So yeah that there's if you stumble upon somebody and like if they want to act all pissed off and all that stuff at first
Just let them know like hey look, I didn't plan on being out here this late. I didn't mean to startle ya
I
Can't imagine I mean, I'm sure there are people out there that would get pissed off if you came stumbling through their camp at night
Yeah, accidentally right going back to like what we've said in other episodes though
(25:47):
Like the community that you and I have come across at least there ain't nobody that's gonna be I
Can't say there's nobody because we know if somebody woke me up and they were lost or hiking at night
And they just needed they wanted to make sure they're on the right path or whatever
I would definitely do everything I could down first get either keep going if they wanted to keep going
Just make sure the up this is campsite whatever and where you're going
(26:11):
Yeah, we know the map to you should be like three sites down or you should be it's another core rail or whatever
Um, which way are you coming from?
Yeah, if they'd rather not keep going then just be like yeah, there's a spot just go set your tent up over there so
To go on piggyback off of that another thing that I had on my cool things or benefits of hiking at night
(26:37):
There's also a risk is that?
When the Sun goes down the temperatures drop so therefore you can be at risk of hypothermia
Or things like that depending on the climate like in the springtime here in Michigan
It'll get up to 75 almost 80 degrees and then it drops to like the low 50s or high 40s at night
(26:57):
Like that's a pretty big change and you risk hypothermia in those temperatures. So true
Yeah, especially if you get wet sweaty clothes on so those are
Risk factors to think about as well. So yeah
Well, it goes back to like your layers thing to write like have your you know haven't
If you have been sweating all day and the temperatures are starting to drop
(27:19):
Maybe swap out what clothes you're wearing if you have a change of clothes or put on that extra layer or whatever you need to do
Because yeah temperature swing is a real thing. Like you could write absolutely, you know sweating your butt off during the day and then it gets
damn damn
Damn cold that night like downright cold and if you're in wet clothes, that's a real thing
(27:41):
Or even if you're not in what clothes and you just need that's what you're on. Like it's yeah
That is a real thing that temperature swing. So yeah, maybe
The flip side to that like you're saying is you know, if it's
105 degrees during the day and you just can't move during the day because it's too hot
Maybe wait until dark because you think that's a better option
Right, but then you've got all these other things to be concerned about
(28:04):
I don't know. I don't have a good answer for it. Like it's you know, right
That's the thing is like if you're in a climate where you can hike during the day
I like you like you said if it's 105 or 112 degrees outside
There's no sense in risking all the dehydration and and heat stroke and all that kind of crap if you can do it at night
But those types of climates you're gonna end up with scorpions and snakes and like all this other shit that comes out at night
(28:26):
that for sure, you know, so
I
I guess this is our do your own research for where you're hiking and and like when you're planning it
Make sure you know what the temperatures and the weather is going to be and plan accordingly if you yeah
Want to hike at night make sure you do your extra prep work. Yeah
(28:50):
That's pretty much all I have except for on my notes
I now have the know your limits portion of it
Like know when to just call it quits if you're hiking at night and you can't go keep going like, okay
Well, let's let's talk about that for a minute because that might lead into another section that I have
Talk more about that know your limits
(29:12):
I mean, yes, you kind of have experience with this one
So so well the know your limits, especially at night if your visibility is too low
even with a flashlight or something if it's foggy or some something and
You just cannot keep
Moving because you can't see then there's nothing in the
(29:34):
Rules that states you can't set up camp where you're at
Try to have as minimal impact there. There are rules
Let me just say this but you're not going to get in trouble if somebody were to be out there like we said the other
Episode if somebody finds you
I was just gonna say
Your rescue
(29:57):
Like okay, I'm saved I
Mean when you and I did it I was nervous when you and I did that. Yeah, so it that's that's the thing is like so
you can be nervous about that, but
If somebody catches you and I'm using air quotes on that
Then you either a explain your situation. They're like, alright, yeah
(30:18):
Just do it be safe or whatever or they escort you to where it's safe or something
So not the end of the world there
if you're feeling uncomfortable if you
You're just not sure if you're headed in the right direction
anything like that and you it's
If you feel lost you can only do worse by getting yourself more lost through 100 stop
(30:43):
Setup camp wait for daylight
Oh, you and I you and I talked about like I think it was our first trip that we took up in the Porky's
where
We would get to spots during the daytime when you could see really well where it's like man
I haven't seen a blaze in a while right or or there's this like is this a fork in the trailer?
(31:06):
Is this not a fork in the trail and that's during the daytime when you can see
Everything that you could possibly see at nighttime. Imagine how much worse that is
So yes, if you get to a point where you're like, man, I haven't seen I haven't seen a blaze in a while
I'm not entirely sure I'm on the path. I
You know
(31:28):
Can't really tell what's going on
There is no shame in stopping and calling it a day like absolutely set up set your tent up or sent set your hammock up
Or just like hunker down to the best of your ability
Mm-hmm. There is no point in getting more lost
Especially at night like I mean, right because it's so I mean it just goes all back to it's so hard to see right like
(31:54):
Depending on where you're at. Are there
Possible like steep ridges. Are there possible things you could fall into or trip over or miss a turn or
If it gets to the point where you feel uncomfortable, you're not sure where you're at
Stop stop exactly. Is it against the rules? Probably. Are we gonna give you a pass a hundred percent?
(32:18):
absolutely, it's like there is nobody wants you to get hurt because you're
All the rules are there because they're important right so I don't want to say it's an unimportant rule but like right
Don't go get lost. Don't go get yourself hurt. Don't get yourself into a situation where you're making it worse
(32:40):
Because you're afraid to get in trouble like I would rather you got in trouble and were safe
then you went out and got like
badly injured or
Or worse the part of hiking that we don't like to talk about is like people die
Like you could die and I hate saying that because it sounds awful and I'm not trying to be like alarmist about anything
(33:02):
but
You could and it make things are that much more dangerous you walk on the edges of cliffs at time like pictured rocks
And and in the porkies like you're
You've got a hundred foot drop right to the set next to you and there's no handrail
There's there's nothing like picture pictures like that. We we did our one over
(33:25):
Was that Fife Lake that we hiked to the one time spring like you always say fight like spring like spring like that one
Okay, that trail even yeah followed a river
Yep, and if you took one step too far in the wrong direction now was it a sheer drop-off?
No, it wasn't but if you you got your pack and stuff on and you know
(33:46):
Slip and tumble down this hill you could break an arm or break a leg or break a hip or break your back or break
Your neck or like that could happen
Yeah, we've all seen Chris Farley tumble tumble in down a hill and black sheep. So
percent
We don't want that to be any of you. So yeah, I mean like Mike is saying if
(34:09):
You're getting I mean, it's all kind of uncomfortable
But if you're like getting nervous right about like where am I am I making it worse?
If you think you're making it worse, you're making it worse
Just stop stop and set up camp to the best of your ability figure it out in the daytime, right?
The only other one no one to stop is if the weather changes
(34:32):
unexpectedly for sure anything like that and you
Know you've still got a couple miles to go or whatever and now it's just a torrential downpour or anything like that
Try to get out of it get underneath the tree or something to make yourself safe set up camp if you can
All that kind of stuff, but don't don't keep moving now that visibility is even less
(34:53):
Just because extra extra weather came through whether it's fog wind rain snow
I mean Mike Mike and I found ourselves in an unexpected hailstorm out on the trail one time
Yeah, it wasn't even it was summer and we found ourselves in an unexpected hailstorm wasn't even forecasted
In and you and I stopped and hunkered underneath a tree for a bit not entirely sure
(35:16):
That's the best thing to do because it was like pretty wicked, but what are you gonna do?
Right like it was like large marble sized hail coming down
You and I didn't have helmets to put on
Like I don't know what to do. We're gonna get underneath this tree now. It passed really quick, but
You know had that lasted for an extended period of time
(35:39):
I you know that goes back to is it pushing your
Timeline back. Did you have to stop for a period of time you didn't plan for?
You and I in that situation were fine. We wound up back to camp and plenty of time, right?
But things like that do happen unexpectedly
They'll adjust your time. So again be prepared
(36:00):
Don't plan for it. Yeah, especially that thing can happen on multiple day trips when you're out in the backcountry
You don't have any cell signal you can look up to the weather
But we all know that it's not a hundred percent guarantee the weather forecast anything like that. So
Those things can can happen
Yeah, for sure. So that's all I've
(36:21):
I've got on my notes and and for my research so well, so I just had a couple of things
I'm just gonna hit him like lightning quick because they didn't really fit into like
One of the categories that we got talking about
I
Just want to remind everybody again
Before you set out always a good time to let people know what your plan is
(36:44):
Yep, absolutely
So again, because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes so like if this is the only episode you ever listen to
Mike and I
Thoroughly suggest that you let somebody know
Where you plan to be and how far you think you'll get every day
In the event that at the end you don't show up where you should be
(37:06):
At least somebody knows what the idea was and where you should have been at each segment during your
Hiking or backpacking trip. So I still think that applies even with this episode and just for a safety thing
Absolutely. Let somebody know where you're gonna be
I had a couple of things regarding like if you do find yourself out at night
(37:29):
how to
Try to be as safe as you can while using your headlamp your flashlight your red light thing your glow stick
one
Slow down
Yeah, go slower than you would during the daytime
It's a big big suggestion there even even if you think you can see as good as you could like you got you got your
(37:53):
Headlight on you're good. You're confident. You feel like you know where you're going. Please slow down
I'm telling you you cannot see as well as you thought you could during the day
Especially if you are new I don't need your help
Especially if you are new I don't need you rolling an ankle or right, you know
Injuring your knee while you're out there because you were overly confident
(38:14):
Be mindful to slow down and walk slower at night for one. It's gonna help you like
If you you know step weird on a tree rut or you roll your ankle a little bit by going slower
Hopefully it's not as bad
It's also going to help you
By going slower. It's going to give you more opportunity to see any of those trail markers that you otherwise may have missed so
(38:41):
You're not gonna be able to see those trail markers as far away as you could during the day
So going slower is going to help give you that time to see those ones at night
The other thing if you are with a group and fingers crossed you are because we always recommend that you hike with a group just because
there is
Is the ability to help each other and get yourselves out of situations and things like that?
(39:05):
But if you got multiple people with headlamps on
Hopefully you are using the red light mode, but if you are not
Try to avoid looking directly into the light
That should be self-explanatory
But it really does screw up your ability to see
By looking into a bright light when you're amongst the darkness. So right and shiny little
(39:27):
You know point point your headlight towards the ground. Don't be pointing it way out in front of you into other people's eyes. Yeah
Point it more down towards the ground if you have a headlight that is adjustable and you can do I
Think that one's a more at me guys
Slightly at my but you know, just a good general
(39:47):
Rule try to point it down further. I'm not saying like straight down. Yeah, you want to be able to see in front of you, too, but
Yeah, you know try not to blind each other while you're out there
Absolutely
So yeah, so that is pretty much the end of my list
If I can go back to the beginning of the episode and just say once again, don't don't do it
(40:09):
Unless you have to right. Yeah until you get more comfortable. Yeah
Yeah, I think that's the best rule to live by is try not to do it
But if you find yourself, hopefully this episode was helpful and gave you some tips on how to
Navigate the nighttime if you need to I
I concur
(40:31):
All right
Well, if anybody has any other thoughts or suggestions about how to hike while it's dark out or
You have found something to be super useful for hiking at night
You can always reach us on our email, which is Shawn Mike Hike at gmail.com
You can reach us on our website, which is Shawn Mike Hike .comor on most of the major socials at Shawn Mike Hike
(40:53):
Please rate review and subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast and until next time
Take a hike during the day during the day. Thanks everybody. See you next time
I'm Shawn and I'm Mike and you're listening to Shawn and Mike take a hike
(00:18):
Welcome to another episode of Shawn and Mike take a hike. What are we gonna talk about today Mike?
today we talk a little bit about something that you and I haven't really done but
Good to end up happening in the future if things don't go 100% as planned
But getting into night hiking or hiking after the sun sets and it's getting dark
(00:41):
Yeah, so
We ran into those girls on our very first trip and it was getting dark
Our fire was going and we could barely see each other and they come wandering past and it's like
You guys okay?
Well, and I mean we've talked on other episodes about like I think it maybe was on our planning episode or I don't know
(01:08):
What episode but like?
Realistically my advice is don't do it, you know, right? Yeah, if you could avoid it at all
Yeah
now I I get like there might be like certain maybe you're going out on the trail because you
want to see the stars or maybe you're
Wandering away from camp because you want to go down to this lake or whatever to you know
(01:31):
Watch a meteor shower or whatever or you might be wandering away from camp just because you got to use the bathroom
You know, so there's like you might wind up getting away from camp at night, right? But realistically I
Yes, you and I have not done true nighttime hiking. I stick by my original statement. We're like
Don't do it like I feel like it's especially if you are brand new right like because the whole premise of this podcast
(01:56):
When you and I started this this was like amateur hiking advice for amateur hikers, right?
I think if you are new and starting out
The general rule right thumb I'm sticking with it. I'm saying don't hike at night until you get comfortable hiking during the day
right
Yeah, for sure like it's it's a scary like just the whole visibility thing like
(02:19):
Your whole line of sight and what you can and cannot see
Yes, I mean you're taking equipment that allows you to you know, you're taking a flashlight or a headlamp or whatever but
That doesn't illuminate a hundred percent of
Of your viewing area like type of however, I don't know how I want to say that but it doesn't eliminate everything
(02:41):
I think it makes it I mean even the stuff that it does illuminate
So, I mean not to get ahead of ourselves with like what what tools
to take but
Let's say a headlamp right like you got a headlamp on I still think that makes it even harder than
Hiking during the day
You're gonna get weird shadows. You're not really gonna be able to have the same depth perception that you have like during the daytime
(03:05):
It is going to make it harder to hike at night
now I'm not so naive as to think like
You and I can do as much planning as we want to
and
There could still be a scenario where you get stuck out hiking longer than you anticipated hiking so
Yeah, I would say plan for the possibility of hiking after dark
(03:31):
Right, but try your damnedest not to be hiking after dark, especially when you're brand new
You know, you could get a late start on the trail like the day of your you know
It's night two or day two and you you're waking up from camp
You're moving a little slow, whatever you get a late start. You've got 10 miles to go
And that takes you 12 hours. Let's say you're it's just a really slow day. Whatever and okay
(03:55):
There there are going to be instances where you it's just unavoidable and you end up on out there at night
We try to plan accordingly so that doesn't happen but like you said it could so well or I mean even
You could be exhausted. Maybe you have to take more rest breaks than you anticipated
Maybe like you said, maybe you got a late start that day
(04:17):
For whatever reason maybe you know you hit traffic on the way to the trail or you're already out on the trail
And you're getting a late start because you
You know
Didn't set an alarm that day and wound up sleeping later than you did like there are scenarios
I'm not so you know
I get it like it could happen but
To the best of your ability
(04:39):
Try to not let it happen, especially when you're brand new like if you are a season hiker
You're comfortable with the trail. Maybe it's a trail you've been on before
You know it like the back of your hand at this point. You want to see it at night
You want to like challenge yourself in that way?
Maybe it's the dead of summer and you're doing it because it's like too hot to hike during the day like I can see
(05:00):
There might be scenarios where you wind up hiking at night
It just don't think for a newbie. That's the best time to do it. But again, right
Plan for the possibility so that if the sun does go down
You've got all the tools that you need to still make it safely to camp. Absolutely
Yeah, so I guess why don't we get into like some of the
Equipment or the necessary things that will help you if you find yourself
(05:25):
Out there after dark and I mean everybody we've already talked about it at the beginning
I prefer rechargeable things. So you don't have to bring extra batteries
You just bring an extra battery pack like a recharging pack
Sure, but if you don't have a rechargeable headlamp or a flashlight bring an extra set of batteries
Just in case you're out there for longer than you need to yes. Here's more weight, but it's
(05:52):
It can save you
Here's my only hot take on that so I agree. I like rechargeable much more than I like disposable batteries
Yeah, however
I will give it to like bringing extra batteries for like not a rechargeable thing because you can like immediately swap and keep going
True where if you're using if you're using a rechargeable you've got a downtime period where you need to wait for that to recharge
(06:19):
So you can't just go and just go and just go and just go and just go and just go and just go
But it's just like you're using it for a long period of time
So you're not going to have to wait for that to recharge. So that is fair
I don't really know which one is better like for you and I with the way we plan and the luck we've had so far
The rechargeable one works better for us because we are typically not needing it at night. We're using it for short periods of time
(06:43):
For you know to go to the bathroom to go down to the lake to go whatever
It's not a good idea to recharge it or overnight to recharge it because we're not using it for a long period of time
but if you are truly legitimately like
Couldn't make it to camp before sunset and need to use it to get there
I can see the benefit of using one that has a swap out battery because then you can now you can get rechargeable
(07:09):
Swap out batteries. So maybe that's a way to go through. Yep mocha
Usb rechargeable double a batteries and all that sort of stuff. So maybe you could do the best of both worlds
I don't know figure out what works well for you and how much weight you want to carry how much weight you want to carry?
Exactly, right
But I will say like to go back to the headlamp thing
(07:30):
Flashlights are great and all but let's be honest like if you're out doing this for hiking and you're planning to hike at night
I'm gonna suggest the headlamp over a
Flashlight just because you're absolutely using your hands. Yeah, you know you strap it on your head. You're good to go
And most headlamps
Will have a red light mode
(07:52):
Right. Yes
So for anybody that's not familiar with like red light
The whole thought behind red light as far as I understand it and mike you can correct me if i'm wrong on this one
But it's like to give you enough light to navigate by
But it's not as harsh of a light so your pupils don't dilate as much
(08:14):
Right. So when you turn it off you can see so if you turn it off you can see it's not like you're not getting that like
Harsh reflection into your eyeball that's making your pupils freak out. You just you just do the pirate thing and you wear an eye patch
Well, you could do the pirate thing and wear an eye patch. That's another thing you could do
It's more of like an advanced thing in my opinion
(08:35):
Now you're hiking with one eye
Yeah, so those are all great things but a light source of some sorts so you can
See the trail
I'll bet you that you're on and the biggest thing that you want to see is the the trail markers
whether it's a blue blaze on the nct or
There's signage whatever you want to be able to keep an eye out for when you're hiking
(09:00):
an eye out for where you got to turn or what way the the path is going and
You also want to be able to find the ground
So, you know, is there is it going to start going downhill uphill? Is there a tree rut?
Anything like that that's going to be sticking up that you need to actually step over
Anything like that any obstacles so
(09:23):
But yeah, that's the reason for that
um, another thing that I have on mine not to jump ahead and
Move on too quickly. Did you have anything else or did you want to have something?
I mean just for gear the only other thing that I have under gear like to help you prepare
is
I have uh
(09:46):
I don't know what you actually glow in the dark sticks. What are those called like uh glow sticks or marker lights?
Yeah, so
what are your thoughts on that like you and I take glow sticks as a
Nightlight type of a thing as a nightlight type of thing or as like a backup for camp
(10:06):
I can also see that coming
In as useful
Clip it to your back
Yeah, well or even like I mean it does throw off enough light. I think you could probably navigate with that
So yeah, if your batteries died or you did have a rechargeable headlamp that died you could use that as a backup option
Yep. Yep. I don't think it's a great one
(10:28):
But they do glow for a long time like it's not going to be as good as a headlamp or as good as a flashlight
but if you are using it in
What I maybe it's not truly an emergency, but what I'm going to call an emergency situation
or
maybe
Maybe you might even wind up saying like, okay
I'm clearly not going to make it to wherever I was planning to camp tonight
(10:51):
But I need to set up camp here where I'm at just in the middle of the trail
At least if you had a glow stick that could like illuminate your immediate surroundings
That would give you some light to set up camp by or possibly cook by
Well, and that you know, it'll alert anybody that's coming down the trail as well that there is somebody there
And that you know, they're not just coming up on somebody with all of a sudden with a bright flashlight or whatever
(11:17):
Right and they're surprised. So
Yeah, I did have that on my on my list as well
From my research most of the time it recommends using it as a marker for
Clipping on your pack so you can identify groups if you get separated a little bit there a little bit farther ahead
You know where they're at and you can see that. Yeah. Yeah, that's a that's a great idea. So
(11:39):
Yeah, because you should be able to see that from a little ways away. It's not like super harsh light
So it's not going to affect your ability to see if you're like just trying to follow somebody with one of those on it
I think it's it's one of those things where they are usually
lightweight enough
Throwing in your backpack like multi-use type of thing. I take one every trip. We take one every time
(12:02):
Just in case takes up no space
They last for a long time
Both like once you crack them, they do a lot of light but then also like it if you don't use it
It's not like, you know, it's got an expiration date of like two weeks from now, right?
It's an easy thing to just throw in your pack, right? But even okay, so then even with that
Let's say you've got your glow stick
(12:25):
You should still be able to like again. They are not super bright, right? Like they're not gonna like
It's not a search later a spotlight or whatever
But even with a glow stick, you're going to be able to look at your map. You're going to be able to look at your compass
You're going to be able to get your GPS with it like it is giving enough light to look at your essential things
Yeah, I think it's worth throwing in your pack. I mean on every trip always take one
(12:48):
The other thing that I that I like that I take because my headlamp isn't always necessarily readily available
I probably should put it in one of my top pockets or top pouches. So it's more easily accessible. Yeah, but
I always have my
Lantern my solar rechargeable lantern
That's dangling off of that and that is collapsible. So it shows throws the light whichever, you know, however
(13:12):
Collapse down you have it. It's got different light modes on it
So that's always a backup option too or can be used as one of those
Markers on the back of my pack too. So you'd be able to see me
Yeah, and that option and that little lantern that Mike has we have a lot of
That right on our website like that truly is like a great thing. It's got a little solar panel on it
(13:33):
To somewhat recharge the battery during the day
So you don't have to worry about taking extra batteries and all the things like that is
Especially if you are unexpectedly at night great. Yeah, you have super good idea
Yep
So the other thing that I have on my list of things that you want to take in case you're out at after dark is like
Reflective clothing or reflective gear. So if you don't if you don't have one of those lights on you
(13:58):
if somebody's shining a flashlight looking for you that reflectiveness will
and
Shining and they make you more
Visible to them. Yeah, I think that's a great idea like definitely
Especially if you think there's a possibility that you'll be out after dark. Yeah
This is the day to wear your bright color clothing
(14:19):
This is the day like if you've got reflective stuff clip that's the to the outside of you
This is not the day to wear your camel, right?
Or like your jet black clothing
This is the day if you feel if you got a late start or you're taking more breaks
Then you thought you were gonna and you're like getting close to sunset
This is the time to get on that like bright colored gear
(14:40):
Especially if you're if you're a solo hiker, that's maybe its own thing
But like Mike and I have talked about it before
That's maybe its own thing but like Mike and I have talked in the past about like safety and numbers and all that sort of stuff
If it's gonna if the sun's gonna go down put your bright colored clothing on so that you can at least
Keep in contact with each other in the event that you know
(15:00):
One person goes around a bend and maybe the other person didn't see that bend help you find each other a lot better
Absolutely
Um the the other stuff that I have on my list
I don't know what else you have on on yours for the gear to take
But I mean everything else is pretty much gear that you're going to be taking anyway
Or you should be that we mentioned in our gear episode. So i'll just kind of
(15:21):
Blossom over them like a map and compass or in or a gps like right know how to get to where you're going
an emergency emergency whistle and
This one does say layered clothing if you're gonna be getting in there out there at night
Depending on the climate you're in like if you're out west
and it's like
100 degrees in the during the day, but it drops to like 60 at night
(15:43):
Yeah, you want different layers of clothing for that. So
Take that kind of stuff here in michigan where we're going if it gets up to 80 during the day
Depending on the time of year, but when you and I typically go
It's gonna get to like the mid 60s at night
Like it's not as drastic of a change but just I mean that's another part of your planning though
(16:05):
Is make sure you know what the weather and temperature is going to be so you can pack accordingly
so well and I didn't think about the whistle, I mean the whistle is a good thing to
A it's a good thing to have
At all times of your hike, but yeah, that's a good point to make like
If you're not normally wearing your whistle around your neck
Maybe if you're going out at night or it's starting to get dark
(16:28):
Maybe that whistle out and put it around night time is definitely definitely the time to do it
So I hadn't thought of that but then and then this isn't necessarily gear related
But kind of one of the things that you said made me think of it
Have if some of this stuff is not usually usually in your most readily accessible spot in your pack
right
(16:48):
Maybe playing ahead and get it in like the most right user friendly quickly accessible part of your pack. That's a good
Rethink the way you pack especially for that day if that risk is coming if it's getting dark
And you know, you've got four miles to go
Stop take a break reassess move things around in your pack
(17:09):
That is and real quick get them where you're going to need them or get them out and prepare for dark right then in there
Don't wait till it's dark to do it wait like get prepared as you see like oh shit. I'm running out of time
I mean realistically even if it is starting to get dark and you're like, oh, I'm sure I'll make it to camp
I'm sure it's right up around this bend like I'm almost there
(17:29):
I don't need to prepare like, you know
You could do your best preparing but sometimes your mileage is off like oh
If it is starting to get dark and you think you can make it plan for not making it
I mean and it's only happened to you and I like once or twice where the mileage
Expectation was shorter than what we plan. It's usually a half to a mile further
(17:51):
right, so
Right, I mean what you can plan to the best of your ability once in a while your mileage is going to be off
Or the campsite isn't exactly where they thought was going to be on the map or whatever
But yes, I mean get your stuff ready
prepare to be out at night and then
Worst case scenario you wasted five minutes putting stuff where it was readily accessible
(18:13):
But then you get to camp you're still gonna have to set up at camp
You're probably gonna need that headlamp or your glow stick or all that stuff
Anyway, now it's readily accessible right on the top of your pack when you get there, right? Yep. Absolutely
That's all I have as far as equipment
I've got some
Benefits of hiking after dark that I looked up
(18:34):
Okay, and how to do it safely a little bit
So do you have any other equipment before we move on to this? No, I'm no
Curious what you've got to say about this and I might have commentary with it
But right, so I'll just kind of go a little bit quickly because like I said there there are benefits
but these are things in my opinion that
you can do by getting to camp during the day and going for a
(19:01):
Weightless not weight free but weight less
Or less weight
Out and back to go a mile or whatever like stargazing
You know, you don't want to be out there anything like that with your full pack and you still got to set up tent and all
that
But or if it's just an out and back and you're a quote unquote day hike, but you're purposely doing it at night
(19:24):
So you have a better night sky then that's that's another thing like so there is a benefit to that
I mentioned the cooler temperatures if you're out west or in a hotter climate anything like that
Once the Sun goes down, we know that the the temperatures drop as well. Yep, if you don't like people and
You're in an area where?
(19:45):
You've got crowded trails usually at night. You're gonna have fewer people on the trails. So there's a benefit there
You can get a different perspective of if like if you're really familiar with a trail
Hiking it at night can create a different perspective on you know, things you see
Animals are gonna be different you get the nocturnal animals that come out in the daytime animals go to bed things like that
(20:10):
That's pretty much the benefits like I said, I think 90% of those are a
more of a hiking and not a backpacking thing. Yeah, so
But that is
Those were just some of the things I found and I'm like well a lot of these we would do after we got to camp
(20:32):
Right. That's the thing and and to go back to like
originally
Most of the advice that you and I give on this podcast are
for
Begin beginners. You don't know the trail or new ish people. Yeah
the wanting some solitude the
Get a different perspective to me that is a more advanced thing. Yeah, you are doing more experience. Yeah for sure
(20:59):
Once you are comfortable being a hiker or backpacker and you want to start exploring those additional things or some of those different perspectives
I'm not saying never do it
I'm just saying like a new person like I wouldn't would not plan my first trip ever to be a night height, right?
And I don't even know that I want to play on a night hike per se I mean maybe a hike but not a bank coming
(21:22):
Coming from the guy that wants to do winter backpacking. You're saying you wouldn't do it at night. I
Would plan on being out
Especially the snow and everything on the ground and a little bit harder to move around. I
Think I would I would want to do that during the day
We do have shorter days in the winter so you have to plan a little bit differently
(21:45):
But I would try to do it at during the day
But I would like to do winter camping her back. Okay, different episode but
But but I will say like the
The nighttime like wanting to go look at the stars like you and I did that up at picture rocks
We left our campsite and walked down to the lake to watch look at the stars down there
(22:08):
We left our camp one night because we wanted to go down to the shore Lake Superior to look for you per lights
Like you and I have done that
right, but even with that it was a
The way you and I did it was we got to camp while it was still daylight
We took the path that we needed to take down to the lake so that we could familiarize ourselves with that route
(22:30):
Yeah came back and then once nighttime got there
Then we went and redid it with headlamps but we already kind of knew where we were going
Yep, and we knew it was only you know a 10-minute walk down to the lake in a 10-minute walk back
So we knew our headlights were gonna last that long. So again
We
(22:51):
Planned to be doing that had the supplies that we needed. It wasn't all just like willy-nilly
And get out there and hope for the best like I mean, it's it's definitely a
It is more dangerous to do and it is harder to do. Oh for sure
Try to plan ahead for it. Try to not get caught out there unexpectedly doing it, right?
(23:13):
Yeah, it's it's like you said when you're brand new
It's not like you're gonna have experience on that
Even if you have a little bit of experience on your belt and most people try to do different sections of the trail or different
Trails in general. So you if you're newer you probably have a little bit of experience
If you're newer, you probably you don't know the trail like the back of your hand
(23:33):
so right it's more dangerous to be going when you
Don't know the terrain and you don't know where the bends and the turns and all this stuff are so
well, and even one of the other things that you touched on like one of the
What you're gonna call a benefit? I'm gonna call one of the dangers
So like you had mentioned like one of the cool quote-unquote cool things or whatever that you could see is okay
(23:57):
You get to see different wildlife at night. Well, right? Yeah
Right that is one of the dangerous cool you like your yeah
As well
Your coyotes are night animals your bears are night animals, I mean there's just some of the
(24:18):
nighttime creatures that are out about
You maybe don't want to come across at night
realistically, yeah, so
As much as you and I have said like on other episodes where you know
Be respectful of other people when you're out on the trail and try not to make too much noise and all this and that and the other
Well, if you do
(24:38):
Unexpectedly find yourself out at night and you hadn't planned on being out there at night, right?
This might be a time to make a little bit more noise than usual so that you are not sneaking up on some of these
Nighttime animals and right startling them or letting them startle you
Well in that case too, if you do disturb somebody that's out there and you are not necessarily lost
(25:01):
But you are in the backcountry at night. You can't see shit if you stumble upon
Somebody then okay, you're either a you're on the right track and this is a campsite that you know is on the map
Or be they might be nice enough to say just pitch your tenant right here and figure it out in the morning
like type of a thing so right um
(25:24):
So yeah that there's if you stumble upon somebody and like if they want to act all pissed off and all that stuff at first
Just let them know like hey look, I didn't plan on being out here this late. I didn't mean to startle ya
I
Can't imagine I mean, I'm sure there are people out there that would get pissed off if you came stumbling through their camp at night
Yeah, accidentally right going back to like what we've said in other episodes though
(25:47):
Like the community that you and I have come across at least there ain't nobody that's gonna be I
Can't say there's nobody because we know if somebody woke me up and they were lost or hiking at night
And they just needed they wanted to make sure they're on the right path or whatever
I would definitely do everything I could down first get either keep going if they wanted to keep going
Just make sure the up this is campsite whatever and where you're going
(26:11):
Yeah, we know the map to you should be like three sites down or you should be it's another core rail or whatever
Um, which way are you coming from?
Yeah, if they'd rather not keep going then just be like yeah, there's a spot just go set your tent up over there so
To go on piggyback off of that another thing that I had on my cool things or benefits of hiking at night
(26:37):
There's also a risk is that?
When the Sun goes down the temperatures drop so therefore you can be at risk of hypothermia
Or things like that depending on the climate like in the springtime here in Michigan
It'll get up to 75 almost 80 degrees and then it drops to like the low 50s or high 40s at night
(26:57):
Like that's a pretty big change and you risk hypothermia in those temperatures. So true
Yeah, especially if you get wet sweaty clothes on so those are
Risk factors to think about as well. So yeah
Well, it goes back to like your layers thing to write like have your you know haven't
If you have been sweating all day and the temperatures are starting to drop
(27:19):
Maybe swap out what clothes you're wearing if you have a change of clothes or put on that extra layer or whatever you need to do
Because yeah temperature swing is a real thing. Like you could write absolutely, you know sweating your butt off during the day and then it gets
damn damn
Damn cold that night like downright cold and if you're in wet clothes, that's a real thing
(27:41):
Or even if you're not in what clothes and you just need that's what you're on. Like it's yeah
That is a real thing that temperature swing. So yeah, maybe
The flip side to that like you're saying is you know, if it's
105 degrees during the day and you just can't move during the day because it's too hot
Maybe wait until dark because you think that's a better option
Right, but then you've got all these other things to be concerned about
(28:04):
I don't know. I don't have a good answer for it. Like it's you know, right
That's the thing is like if you're in a climate where you can hike during the day
I like you like you said if it's 105 or 112 degrees outside
There's no sense in risking all the dehydration and and heat stroke and all that kind of crap if you can do it at night
But those types of climates you're gonna end up with scorpions and snakes and like all this other shit that comes out at night
(28:26):
that for sure, you know, so
I
I guess this is our do your own research for where you're hiking and and like when you're planning it
Make sure you know what the temperatures and the weather is going to be and plan accordingly if you yeah
Want to hike at night make sure you do your extra prep work. Yeah
(28:50):
That's pretty much all I have except for on my notes
I now have the know your limits portion of it
Like know when to just call it quits if you're hiking at night and you can't go keep going like, okay
Well, let's let's talk about that for a minute because that might lead into another section that I have
Talk more about that know your limits
(29:12):
I mean, yes, you kind of have experience with this one
So so well the know your limits, especially at night if your visibility is too low
even with a flashlight or something if it's foggy or some something and
You just cannot keep
Moving because you can't see then there's nothing in the
(29:34):
Rules that states you can't set up camp where you're at
Try to have as minimal impact there. There are rules
Let me just say this but you're not going to get in trouble if somebody were to be out there like we said the other
Episode if somebody finds you
I was just gonna say
Your rescue
(29:57):
Like okay, I'm saved I
Mean when you and I did it I was nervous when you and I did that. Yeah, so it that's that's the thing is like so
you can be nervous about that, but
If somebody catches you and I'm using air quotes on that
Then you either a explain your situation. They're like, alright, yeah
(30:18):
Just do it be safe or whatever or they escort you to where it's safe or something
So not the end of the world there
if you're feeling uncomfortable if you
You're just not sure if you're headed in the right direction
anything like that and you it's
If you feel lost you can only do worse by getting yourself more lost through 100 stop
(30:43):
Setup camp wait for daylight
Oh, you and I you and I talked about like I think it was our first trip that we took up in the Porky's
where
We would get to spots during the daytime when you could see really well where it's like man
I haven't seen a blaze in a while right or or there's this like is this a fork in the trailer?
(31:06):
Is this not a fork in the trail and that's during the daytime when you can see
Everything that you could possibly see at nighttime. Imagine how much worse that is
So yes, if you get to a point where you're like, man, I haven't seen I haven't seen a blaze in a while
I'm not entirely sure I'm on the path. I
You know
(31:28):
Can't really tell what's going on
There is no shame in stopping and calling it a day like absolutely set up set your tent up or sent set your hammock up
Or just like hunker down to the best of your ability
Mm-hmm. There is no point in getting more lost
Especially at night like I mean, right because it's so I mean it just goes all back to it's so hard to see right like
(31:54):
Depending on where you're at. Are there
Possible like steep ridges. Are there possible things you could fall into or trip over or miss a turn or
If it gets to the point where you feel uncomfortable, you're not sure where you're at
Stop stop exactly. Is it against the rules? Probably. Are we gonna give you a pass a hundred percent?
(32:18):
absolutely, it's like there is nobody wants you to get hurt because you're
All the rules are there because they're important right so I don't want to say it's an unimportant rule but like right
Don't go get lost. Don't go get yourself hurt. Don't get yourself into a situation where you're making it worse
(32:40):
Because you're afraid to get in trouble like I would rather you got in trouble and were safe
then you went out and got like
badly injured or
Or worse the part of hiking that we don't like to talk about is like people die
Like you could die and I hate saying that because it sounds awful and I'm not trying to be like alarmist about anything
(33:02):
but
You could and it make things are that much more dangerous you walk on the edges of cliffs at time like pictured rocks
And and in the porkies like you're
You've got a hundred foot drop right to the set next to you and there's no handrail
There's there's nothing like picture pictures like that. We we did our one over
(33:25):
Was that Fife Lake that we hiked to the one time spring like you always say fight like spring like spring like that one
Okay, that trail even yeah followed a river
Yep, and if you took one step too far in the wrong direction now was it a sheer drop-off?
No, it wasn't but if you you got your pack and stuff on and you know
(33:46):
Slip and tumble down this hill you could break an arm or break a leg or break a hip or break your back or break
Your neck or like that could happen
Yeah, we've all seen Chris Farley tumble tumble in down a hill and black sheep. So
percent
We don't want that to be any of you. So yeah, I mean like Mike is saying if
(34:09):
You're getting I mean, it's all kind of uncomfortable
But if you're like getting nervous right about like where am I am I making it worse?
If you think you're making it worse, you're making it worse
Just stop stop and set up camp to the best of your ability figure it out in the daytime, right?
The only other one no one to stop is if the weather changes
(34:32):
unexpectedly for sure anything like that and you
Know you've still got a couple miles to go or whatever and now it's just a torrential downpour or anything like that
Try to get out of it get underneath the tree or something to make yourself safe set up camp if you can
All that kind of stuff, but don't don't keep moving now that visibility is even less
(34:53):
Just because extra extra weather came through whether it's fog wind rain snow
I mean Mike Mike and I found ourselves in an unexpected hailstorm out on the trail one time
Yeah, it wasn't even it was summer and we found ourselves in an unexpected hailstorm wasn't even forecasted
In and you and I stopped and hunkered underneath a tree for a bit not entirely sure
(35:16):
That's the best thing to do because it was like pretty wicked, but what are you gonna do?
Right like it was like large marble sized hail coming down
You and I didn't have helmets to put on
Like I don't know what to do. We're gonna get underneath this tree now. It passed really quick, but
You know had that lasted for an extended period of time
(35:39):
I you know that goes back to is it pushing your
Timeline back. Did you have to stop for a period of time you didn't plan for?
You and I in that situation were fine. We wound up back to camp and plenty of time, right?
But things like that do happen unexpectedly
They'll adjust your time. So again be prepared
(36:00):
Don't plan for it. Yeah, especially that thing can happen on multiple day trips when you're out in the backcountry
You don't have any cell signal you can look up to the weather
But we all know that it's not a hundred percent guarantee the weather forecast anything like that. So
Those things can can happen
Yeah, for sure. So that's all I've
(36:21):
I've got on my notes and and for my research so well, so I just had a couple of things
I'm just gonna hit him like lightning quick because they didn't really fit into like
One of the categories that we got talking about
I
Just want to remind everybody again
Before you set out always a good time to let people know what your plan is
(36:44):
Yep, absolutely
So again, because you don't have to listen to all of our episodes so like if this is the only episode you ever listen to
Mike and I
Thoroughly suggest that you let somebody know
Where you plan to be and how far you think you'll get every day
In the event that at the end you don't show up where you should be
(37:06):
At least somebody knows what the idea was and where you should have been at each segment during your
Hiking or backpacking trip. So I still think that applies even with this episode and just for a safety thing
Absolutely. Let somebody know where you're gonna be
I had a couple of things regarding like if you do find yourself out at night
(37:29):
how to
Try to be as safe as you can while using your headlamp your flashlight your red light thing your glow stick
one
Slow down
Yeah, go slower than you would during the daytime
It's a big big suggestion there even even if you think you can see as good as you could like you got you got your
(37:53):
Headlight on you're good. You're confident. You feel like you know where you're going. Please slow down
I'm telling you you cannot see as well as you thought you could during the day
Especially if you are new I don't need your help
Especially if you are new I don't need you rolling an ankle or right, you know
Injuring your knee while you're out there because you were overly confident
(38:14):
Be mindful to slow down and walk slower at night for one. It's gonna help you like
If you you know step weird on a tree rut or you roll your ankle a little bit by going slower
Hopefully it's not as bad
It's also going to help you
By going slower. It's going to give you more opportunity to see any of those trail markers that you otherwise may have missed so
(38:41):
You're not gonna be able to see those trail markers as far away as you could during the day
So going slower is going to help give you that time to see those ones at night
The other thing if you are with a group and fingers crossed you are because we always recommend that you hike with a group just because
there is
Is the ability to help each other and get yourselves out of situations and things like that?
(39:05):
But if you got multiple people with headlamps on
Hopefully you are using the red light mode, but if you are not
Try to avoid looking directly into the light
That should be self-explanatory
But it really does screw up your ability to see
By looking into a bright light when you're amongst the darkness. So right and shiny little
(39:27):
You know point point your headlight towards the ground. Don't be pointing it way out in front of you into other people's eyes. Yeah
Point it more down towards the ground if you have a headlight that is adjustable and you can do I
Think that one's a more at me guys
Slightly at my but you know, just a good general
(39:47):
Rule try to point it down further. I'm not saying like straight down. Yeah, you want to be able to see in front of you, too, but
Yeah, you know try not to blind each other while you're out there
Absolutely
So yeah, so that is pretty much the end of my list
If I can go back to the beginning of the episode and just say once again, don't don't do it
(40:09):
Unless you have to right. Yeah until you get more comfortable. Yeah
Yeah, I think that's the best rule to live by is try not to do it
But if you find yourself, hopefully this episode was helpful and gave you some tips on how to
Navigate the nighttime if you need to I
I concur
(40:31):
All right
Well, if anybody has any other thoughts or suggestions about how to hike while it's dark out or
You have found something to be super useful for hiking at night
You can always reach us on our email, which is Shawn Mike Hike at gmail.com
You can reach us on our website, which is Shawn Mike Hike .comor on most of the major socials at Shawn Mike Hike
(40:53):
Please rate review and subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast and until next time
Take a hike during the day during the day. Thanks everybody. See you next time
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