Night Travel and Navigation

The day started clear and bright as the hikers left the trailhead near Newport, Oregon. The temperatures were to be moderate most of the day with slight cooling in the evening. They pressed on determined to reach the summit before twilight. After reaching the summit at dusk, the group started to make their way back to the trailhead as fog began to roll in. Within an hour the darkness was becoming a problem and the safety of continued travel became questionable. So what are some basic considerations for night time travel and navigation in the backcountry? First, let us consider that we are not in a “lost hiker” scenario. If lost, the best thing to do is to just stay where you are. This makes the job much easier for the searchers.  Further, recommendations are based on the concerns and issues of hiking when it is really dark, not during the period of a full moon with some ambient light. To read the rest of the post go here.