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Walking Hiking and Rambling in the Dark
At the end of October each year the clocks go back.
After that, an 11:00 am Sunday morning start for a fifteen mile walk starts to look less feasible if the undertaking is to be er . . undertaken in daylight. (Don’t worry, no undertaker jokes follow).
The bottom line is, make sure you're prepared for it by praticising and having a torch of some sort with you, with batteries and spare bulbs and stuff like that.
Finding your way around under a sparkling canopy of twinkly things isn’t always all that easy. So, what do you do if Mr Moonlight starts to beam before you’re ready?
First of all, it is best not to panic.
I SAID DON’T PANIC.
Before you got yourself in to this mess, you’ll have practised won’t you?
You’ll already have gone for some walks 'in the dark'.
If you haven't, why not plan your next walk to include some easy bits at the end which you can do 'in the dark' – or start early so it is 'dark' when you 'set off' and it gets lighter as the day goes on.
Easy places can be those long grassy lanes, quiet roads, pastures with no holes in them, moorland tracks and so on. There are records of individuals walking the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe by moonlight, but I’m not recommending that as a starter!
If you do get caught out by the time:
a) First have a scoff (the grey cells need sugar).
b) Work out where you are.
c) Plan the easiest/safest way to a road or lane.
d) To save batteries, leave turning any lights or torches on till the very last minute. Under certain conditions – for instance under snow and/or in bright moonlight - you might find that you don’t even need a torch (but still take one anyway).
e) Stick together.
If you’re using a GPS, use the backlight very sparingly - it devours the batteries. It is best just to use it to give you positions - and then turn to your compass for guidance. This should have fluorescent markers on the needle and at the end of the direction pointer so you can see them. Just make sure you keep the compass away from your torch, GPS and/or mobile phone or it will lie to you.
Do not sit it out and wait for rescue. You don’t need rescue. You’re not exhausted or injured. You planned this all along. You practised for it. You brought torches and batteries and things.
You did didn’t you?
Besides a long overnight wait on a cold night without shelter might well have worse consequences than an easy walk down. And that's not accounting for the reception you will get from the rescuers themselves when they find you.
Like all the other aspects of our chosen pursuit, being ready and prepared is the key. If you are fully prepared - you might even enjoy walking in the dark.
Just watch out for those huge green-eyed monsters and ghoulies that follow, silently, behind you. And things that go bump in the night. Oh and warm breath on the back of your neck, and the bats that suck your blood, and dead, squashy things laying in the path, and things that growl in the bushes, and sheep who's slitty devil eyes shine back at you in the torchlight . . . ooooer!
“I always have a 'wind-up' LED flashlight in my rucksack, which I bought in Robert Dyas for about a fiver. You get loads of very bright white light for the sake of a few turns of the handle, with no batteries to run out. I was surprized at just how good it is was when I tested it in some caves. As far as I'm concerned, it's a must-have for being out and about in the dark. Another safety tool we carry is the little PMR446 radios (readily available and not expensive)just in case we get split up...”
Harry King, Bexleyheath, Kent
“I'm a walker/scrambler nearing 60 and have ascended several of our wonderful UK summits under the stars. I'm only surprised that there are not more people doing it. To lie on my back, beneath a clear night sky atop the shelter on Cader Idris [sic] gives a pleasure that can't be explained. Likewise to watch the sun sink into the west from Sca Fell. Basic rules to apply are these. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them. Do your homework beforehand regarding route, time and weather. Don't underestimate the difference between day and night, it will surprise the unwary. A reliable headlight is essential, with extra batteries and a backup torch. Remember the temperature can drop dramatically due to both night and altitude, so wear proper clothing, including hat and gloves, even in summer. Carry sufficient provisions, but not more than you need. Finally, if you're of a nervous disposition, stay home, because numerous creatures are nocturnal and you may see and hear much that you failed to anticipate. On the positive side, it is an experience that everyone should taste, at least once, for if you love the mountains as I do, you will view them in a different light, literally.”
Bill Fox, Bolton
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