I’m not sure when my captivation with night hiking began. Though I’ve been doing it as a practice since 2000, I’m guessing my initial smittance began years before, likely on a late afternoon hike that evolved, inadvertently, into a hike in the dark. Whatever, it was a part of my regular hiking regimen for a good 25 years.
Tag Archives: hike
Grab a torch, it’s time for a night hike
At the beginning of September we extolled the virtues of a passeggiata— an after-dinner stroll around the neighborhood. Good for digestion, good for winding down after a stressful day, good for getting to know your immediate surroundings. Besides, with daylight becoming more scarce it was a sensible option for getting out.
Hike through the winter and keep your spirits up
Here’s our annual note for when the temperature seems too cold to hike.
I start most days with an early 3-mile hike. The walk often spells the difference between a good day and a really good day. The walk is important any day of the week, but it’s especially critical on Mondays. This past Monday when I checked the weather, it was 17 degrees out.
This winter, hike at sunrise
There’s a lot of moaning this time of year about the absence of after work sunlight. In the summer, I can get in a 3-mile hike after work. Now it’s dark before I leave the salt mine.
It’s true that if you punch out at 5 this afternoon you’ll only have 3 minutes before sunset, and maybe 25 minutes of useable light total. It’s also true that the issue is less a matter of available sunlight, more a matter of not looking for it in the right place.
Winter: a marvelous monochromatic meander
The following post originally appeared Dec. 12, 2016. We rerun it today, with a tweak or two, because it expresses our appreciation of the season that lies ahead.
Winter’s skies are milky, indifferent. Its landscape monochromatic, a wash of grays and browns. Its weather harsh at times. And Lord knows the season is stingy with sunlight. The stuff of travel & tourism ad campaigns winter is not.