Hiking In The Dark

My latest article for Hike Like A Woman....

https://hikelikeawoman.net/2017/07/hiking-in-the-dark/

Hiking In the Dark

Why would anyone want to hike in the dark?  That’s just crazy right?!  Well actually, it's my favorite way to hike!

It all started when I started hiking up in the dark in order to see the sunrise from the top of the mountains.  Then I hiked in the dark in order to see a “moonbow”.  I fell in love with it and now prefer it.

I wouldn’t recommend hiking alone in the dark, only because you are more likely to trip and slip when you can’t see where you are stepping.

But man, oh man, it’s amazing!  Why?  Talk about using all your senses at one time plus extra senses you never even realized you had.

Your eyes adjust to the darkness much quicker than you would think.  But because you can’t see as well your other senses go into overdrive.

You hear every little noise.  Most you would never hear during the day.  You hear the silence, I mean really hear it!  You hear the leaves and stems crunching underfoot.  You hear the owls wings as they fly over you.  You hear the crickets, the frogs and howling of wolves.  You hear the creek and the waterfall as you get closer and closer to it.  You hear it all like you have never heard it before.

You are forced to use your touch to get around.  You hold onto trees to help you get down the hills.  You reach down to see where the boulders are.  The boulders are cold to the touch, smooth and moist with the night air.  You put your foot where your hand just was because you know that spot is safe to step on.  You feel everything under your feet.  You are more grounded and close to the earth than you have ever imagined.

You feel the night air.  It’s cool, light and moist.  Refreshing to the lungs.  Feels so cleansing on your face and in your soul.  You feel the mist coming off the waterfall.

You normally wouldn’t notice all these things (that all tend to happen when you day hike as well) because you are too busy looking ahead to see how much further you have to go, looking for the view, taking photos or chatting with your friends.

Light up your senses, take a hike in the dark!!!