Tips for Adventuring in the Dark
It’s that time of year again… The clocks have changed and it's getting dark earlier and earlier every day. For those of us who work or are busy between 9-5, finding time to enjoy the outdoors can become increasingly difficult.
Despite the added challenges, some of our community have been embracing the dark evenings with events and activities running through the winter. We caught up with Ian Whiteside from Trek Therapy, to ask for his tips on adventuring after dark.
Why venture outside - it’s cold and dark!
For many of us, evenings might be the only time we’re able to get outside and meet up with our communities, but even in the winter there are plenty of reasons to still get outside.
“Night walks or after dark adventures can be fun and enable a different sensory experience.” Ian shares, going on to add that “The additional challenge of the darkness can provide skill and confidence development opportunities for those engaged in the activity.”
What are some key things to consider when planning after dark activities?
There are a range of different reasons why people feel less confident getting out after dark, and different safety considerations that need to be taken into account. For example, the lack of light can be disorientating and risk factors - real and perceived - increase. We hope these tips will help you start to think about your own after dark activities, although we’re sure you’ll all have your own additions and adjustments that work best for your community, too.
We’ve broken down advice into three different areas:
How to plan an after dark activity,
What to take with you; and
What to consider during an after dark activity.
Tips for planning an after dark activity
Choosing your route. In the daytime you might pick somewhere based on the views, at night you might want to think more about whether your area is lit, or whether you are trying to get somewhere with less light pollution. Finding a route you know well can help manage safety. Ian shares “It is a good idea to pick a location you know and are familiar with. This will help to reduce any hazards and aid group management as the location is familiar to the group leaders.”
Feeling prepared. Leading a group in the dark can use different skills, especially if you’re in rural areas. For Ian, being able to use a map and compass is particularly important at night time - he recommends attending a night navigation skills course to help make sure you feel completely confident.
Have an offsite contact. When planning your activity, Ian suggests designating a person to be your offsite contact. “Letting them know who’s participating, where you’re going, your route and what time you aim to be back. Having someone to be on hand to support you if you get into difficulties is good practice and can offer assistance should it be required if any problems arise.”
Consider the night sky – Aside from safety considerations, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the dark. One way is to connect your activity to the night sky or the phases of the moon. With clear skies, a full moon will often provide more light, but with a new moon you’re likely to see more stars. Ian suggests taking a star gazing and lunar phases identification sheet to help your community to connect with and appreciate the night sky. To find out more about how to start stargazing, you can read or listen to our article with Neill Sanders from Go Stargazing.
What to take with you on an after dark adventure?
Additional Kit. Plenty of torches, headtorches or lights. Remember, lights aren't just for you to be able to see, but also so people can see you. Packing a spare headtorch and batteries is always useful. For Ian, carrying additional kit isn’t just about keeping everyone safe but also helping people to have a more enjoyable experience. Alongside extra lights he also recommends packing additional warm layers, hats, and gloves.
Warm drinks and extra food! There are very few adventures that aren’t made better by a drink and snack, but when it comes to venturing out into the cold and dark that is doubly true! It can help make a dark night feel cozy as well as helping people to keep warm. Hot chocolate and marshmallows anyone? Just remember to check those dietary requirements beforehand so no one is left out - or remind everyone to bring their own food and drink options.
Mobile phone. During cold winter evenings phone batteries can lose charge faster than usual. Ian recommends “Switching to flight mode, it can help reduce the battery’s output and maintain charge should a phone call need to be made.” You can also buy insulated phone pouches to help keep the batteries warmer. Note - navigating on your phone will also drain your battery, so make sure you have a backup in case. This could be a spare charger, additional phone or the map and compass Ian mentioned above!
Additional Visibility. Whether you’re near traffic or just trying to keep track of your group, visibility of both leaders and participants is important in the dark. “Wrapping reflective straps to the rear of each person’s pack is a good feature, which also helps the group stay in close proximity to each other for group management.” shares Ian.
Tips to consider during an after dark activity.
Start with the briefing. Think about what information your community needs to know to help them feel more comfortable and keep them safe in the dark. That might include more information about the route, checking everyone’s lights and kit, or setting expectations for speed and staying together.
Emergency procedure. It is important for the group to know how to act in an emergency. Ian shares that “Discussing specifics, such as how to deal with a first aid situation, using an emergency shelter or calling for support - i.e. calling Mountain Rescue - are important scenarios to discuss with your group before heading out into remote areas at night”.
Night vision. Where possible Ian suggests resisting the urge to use head torches straight away. “Allowing time for night vision to develop and making use of as much natural light as possible is beneficial.” If your community feels comfortable and there is a safe place to do so, you might like to pause during your activity to find somewhere to switch your lights off and see how much you can notice without them.
Slow the walk down. There is so much to notice after dark. “A shorter walk allows the group to take care which helps make the activity safer, but it also allows the group to maximise their opportunities to encounter things they would not usually see,” Ian explains. By slowing down, you can allow your participants to connect more to their senses and tune into the night-time environment. This slow down could include practicing mindful walking, taking a moment to be still and see what you can hear in the night, or seeking opportunities to encounter wildlife.
Build skills in the dark. Night navigation is the perfect skill to share with your community in winter. The early sunsets mean that you don’t have to stay up late in order to really practice your skills. It’s a great opportunity to include some group night navigation exercises such as practicing timings, pacing and walking on a bearing without getting home past midnight.
We hope that all these tips have got you inspired for the months ahead! If you run outdoor activities outdoors and have found a unique way to engage your community in the darker evenings, we’d love to hear about it - please drop us an email hello@alltheelements.co
Remember - these tips are designed to share advice and inspire - they are not a replacement for official leader training.
If you’ve found this post helpful you might enjoy some of our other articles designed for walk leaders. Including this one on Talking About Suicide: Advice for Outdoor Leaders and this one on Gender and Hiking: Creating Inclusive Outdoor Spaces.
To find out more about Trek Therapy, check out their Website
