Night Hiking

When I first heard of someone hiking all night, I thought it was crazy. I did not understand how it would work. I now have spent many hours hiking in the dark; they have been all-nighters or hiking far into the night to reach a campsite and on most summits bids we rise very early to head for the top. Nothing is greater than to be on the summit when the sun rises, but to do that you have to hike in the dark of night. I do not recommend sleeping overnight on a summit so you can see the sunrise; a lightening storm in the dead of night can be deadly.

The first key to succeed at night hiking is to know where you are going, whether you are on a trail or heading across country. Getting lost or turned around at night can be terribly discouraging or dangerous. I always have my night route plotted into my GPS so I know exactly where I am.

The second key to succeed is to follow a set of trail rules. My favorites are: 1) always stop at a fork in the trail until all members of your group have caught up; 2) always stop at bridges until all member catch up. These first two rules keep your group from getting spread out over miles of trail in the dark of night. 3) Hike in groups of at least two. 4) Use good headlights with spare batteries close at hand and a spare small flashlight. 5) Make sure everyone knows how to get to your final destination, even if its back to the car.

A few years ago on a night hike to Yosemite's Half Dome, my son got lost because the adults ahead of him did not stop at the trail fork. They went left to Half Dome and he went right to Clouds Rest. It spoiled the trip for us because we missed the opportunity to share the sunrise together on Half Dome.

The key to cross country night hiking is for all members of the party to stay together or at least in sight. On this kind of hike, every step can be a fork in the trail.

Night hiking is now an important part of my overall hiking experience and trips where I have hiked at night have been some of my favorite.

Tuolumne Falls

Cathedral Lake

Yosemite National Park

Water Wheel Falls

Vernal Falls