And then life got in the way. I started working a desk job, which sometimes required early mornings (and wake-ups) and late nights. Too late for a night hike? In theory, no. In practice, yes. An even bigger factor: I moved away from my night-hiking peeps.

What’s so special about hiking when I can only see a few feet in front me? For starters, only being able to see a few feet in front of me. There’s an intimacy to the night hike, of not just being in the woods, but feeling a part of them. Daylight only gives you the chance to realize the forest is the forest and you are a mere visitor. At night, with just the sounds and smells of the woods to go by, there’s less to make you feel separate. The visual is a huge piece of the hiking experience: the vivid green of summer, the colors of fall permeating the forest, the slant of light as winter approaches — all so special. But the experience of night is just different, a realization I’ve come to reappreciate as the days of 2026 grow shorter.

I began to realize how much I’d been missing night hiking in the waning days of August, on a late evening hike on a ridgeline in the Cane Creek Mountains of central North Carolina. The setting sun bathed the spine of the ridge in pinks and yellows and oranges, and gorgeous as it was, it was the looming gloaming that I was especially excited for. And when it came and I had to flip on my headlamp for the last 10 minutes of the hike, I realized I would need more of this in my life come fall.

And I’ve tried. I’d promised a corporate group I’ve been hiking with on Sundays for 15 years that I would institute a night hike the second Tuesday of each month. So far, that promise has been dashed by the same early morning/late night dilemma that sidelined me in the first place, not to mention the fact I’d need to drive an hour and a half on I-40 from my job near Winston-Salem to my prime legal night-hiking grounds along Falls Lake — at rush hour.

Still, somehow, it will happen. It was a key part of my life for a key part of my life, and it needs to be again. At least once a month, starting this month. I’ll report back on my quest.

In the meantime, if my question has ignited your curiosity about night hiking, check out “Grab a Torch, It’s Time for a Night Hike,” an evergreen post that runs every year at this time of year with tips on night hiking. 

Read it and who knows, maybe we’ll soon run into each other on a dark trail.

The post Recapturing the Night Hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Sensible, at the time.

At the time, the sun was setting around 7:45, leaving plenty of time for an after-supper stroll. Today? The sun goes down around 7. That makes for one tight passeggiata. It also makes for a change in strategy: it’s time to take your evenings up a notch, with a night hike.

Hiking at night offers some special rewards not found during the day. This type of hiking calls for different levels of concentration, as you focus on a close world circumscribed by an orb of light as you scan for footing; this problem-solving aspect of hiking is one of the things that improves not only body but also mind. You can tune in to the sounds of night life, which is not the same as the sounds of daytime critters (more owls than warblers, more raccoons than squirrels). And if you pause and look up, you can see the glories of the night sky (pausing is key; we have tried to hike while looking up at the stars and it ended badly). It’s a special place, the night world, and it is one well worth exploring.

We get that night hiking isn’t for everyone. If you’re hopelessly scared of the dark or have very poor night vision, for instance, you might want to pass. But for the rest of you open to the concept, we have some tips for you.

• A headlamp ( a k a torch). This is a must. Flashlights, work, sure, but you really want to keep your hands free. You can get a decent one for as little as $15; note that LEDs cast a more hike-friendly light. Be sure to pack both extra batteries and a spare light (a little pen light will do, so you can see to change out your batteries).
• Pick short hikes to start. Night hiking takes some getting used to. Your world is confined to the glow of your headlamp, and it takes some concentration to focus on such a limited portion of the trail. Surprisingly, it can be a sensory overload, as your other senses tune in to the world beyond the scope of your light. So don’t overstay on your first outing.
• Hike trails you’ve hiked in daylight. Even though it’s dark, familiarity is a huge plus. You’ll be amazed at how things you didn’t think you noticed during the day will pop out as key markers of where you are on the trail.
• Hike by your feet. It takes a bit more effort to scout out the blazes at night rather than in the day. The best way to tell whether you’ve wandered off the beaten path is if your boots are suddenly sinking into soft, untrodden leaf litter. Backtrack and seek out firm footing.
• Bundle up. Nighttime is cooler than day, of course. Counter the chill with one more layer than you think you’ll need; you can always shed a layer later.
• Don’t hike alone. I do a lot of soloing, but not at night.
• Again, take extra batteries. If your light goes out, you’re really in the dark.
• Again, take a backup light. Even a $5 keychain light can be a lifesaver if your main torch goes out. (Ever try to change batteries in the dark?)
• Take a map and compass.* You should already have these in your daypack, but make extra sure you have them at night.
• Take water and snacks. Just because it’s dark doesn’t mean you can’t get dehydrated. And  hiking in the cool air while concentrating on the trail will burn some calories; you’ll be glad to have the extra fuel.
• Appreciate the night sky. Because that’s one reason you’re hiking at night!
• Take a cell phone, just in case. Besides, most phones have a flashlight function that could save you in a pinch.

Note that most trails on public lands are closed from dusk until dawn. That includes state parks and nearly all municipal and county trails. National forests typically don’t have hours, nor do lands managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Do a little scouting and you shouldn’t have to trespass.

You’ve got more than four months of night hiking opportunity ahead of you. Embrace the dark.

The post Grab a torch, it’s time for a night hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

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. 

Deterred? 

Nope. In large part because it was also sunny. And with only 9 hours and 43 minutes of daylight on this, the third day of winter, it was critical to take advantage of every precious second of daylight. 

North Carolina has, on average, 28 clear days every winter; only seven states see more cloudless days, according to data compiled from two climate agencies. Virginia averages 25 clear days. In short, you could live in much worse places to avoid feeling SAD in winter.

SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that can set in when the days are short and the sun sets early in the day. Once this mood-altering disorder takes hold, according to the Mayo Clinic, it can be hard to shake; it’s best to fight it off before it has a chance to make itself at home, leaving you hibernating in a stupor of despair.

One way to combat SAD, says the Mayo Clinic, is to go outside and move—the more regularly, the better. Even when it’s cold, a brisk walk in outdoor light can help. Another way to lift your mood is to be with other people; socializing with a dose of laughter helps you connect with others, an opportunity in short supply these days. Hiking regularly also can reduce levels of stress, which can contribute to SAD symptoms. According to psychiatry.org, 5 percent of Americans experience SAD, with the most severe bouts occurring in January and February.

Frankly, all of us could stand to reduce our stress levels. So, even if SAD doesn’t get you down, brisk movement and being with others is a great way to keep stress at bay by releasing endorphins and elevating mood.

So while the benefits of being out in the sun are beneficial year round, they are even more so in the short days of winter. But because of the cold, you sometimes need a little extra motivation to drag yourself outside and make it happen. And the best motivation? you ask. 

Hike with a group. 

It’s one time when peer pressure is a good thing. You wake up, you see it’s 28 degrees, you pull the covers back over your head and reach blindly for the snooze button. But then you remember the group waiting for you at the trailhead. You remember that Sue was supposed to hear about that promotion this week, that Jack was on the verge of adopting a shelter dog, that last week when Elliot failed to show he was the topic of discussion. You also remember that, once you’re 5 minutes down the trail and starting to warm up, you really love hiking this time of year. 

The obvious current caveat about hiking in a group: while being outdoors is still considered safe, you want to make doubly sure the group you’re hiking with is safe. With any group you join, be it a hiking-related Meetup or a group from work, find out what their policies are — Are they no-drop? Are they good about posting how challenging a hike is? Do they embrace newcomers? — and see if you’re comfortable with them.

It may take a hike or two to find the group that’s right for you. That’s fine. Because once you do find a group that works, you’ll find yourself spending a lot more time on the trail at a time of year when it will do you the most good.

* * *

Our Meetups

GetHiking! has Meetup groups in XX locations. Click the appropriate link below for more information:

• Charlotte
• Charlottesville
• Greenville
• Triad
• Triangle
• Virginia Beach

Novice in the Triangle?

Looking for something more structured, something that caters more to the hiking novice? If you live in the Triangle, check out our GetHiking! Sunday program, which offers a mix of guided and self-guided (with experienced hikers) hikes from January through June. Learn more here.

The post Hike through the winter and keep your spirits up appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

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. 

Like, in the morning.

For instance, this morning sunrise was at 7:03, and we started seeing light at 6:36 a.m. If you had your act together and could be at the trailhead at 7, you could probably get in those same 3 miles and still be to work by 9. 

Why hike first thing? 

In addition to the obvious Why not?, here’s why:

• You get to see sunrise. It’s like sunset, only in reverse.
• You get to hear the day come to life. Even on a cold morning, there’s a good deal of woodland chatter as the natural world wakes up.
• Start cool, end less cool. There’s something about knowing you’ll likely get warmer as the hike progresses that makes heading out at dawn less daunting.
• It gets your motor revved for the day. You know how some mornings it can be 10:30, 11 by the time you’re fully engaged? A brisk hike in brisk weather will get your juices flowing pronto (and you can tell your boss that!).
• It sets an upbeat tone for your day. 

Tips for an early hike

A few quick things to keep in mind on an early hike.

• Check not only sunrise, but also the start of twilight. As we mentioned earlier, sunrise today was at 7:03 p.m., but twilight — first light — began at 6:36 a.m. Use sunrise as your ultimate guide for being on the trail, but keep in mind it will start getting light about 25 minutes before that. Unless … 
• It’s cloudy. Thus, you’ll want to do the same thing you do for an evening hike: take a headlamp.
• Check the hours of the trail you’ll be hiking. Nearly all municipal and county parks have hours, ditto state parks and national parks, as well as land trust preserves. Some of them have nebulous “dawn-to-dusk” hours, most employ actual hours. Some have gates, some do not. National forests and game lands are about the only public lands that generally don’t have posted hours. Technically, you are trespassing if you are on a trail beyond its posted hours.
• Be content with a shorter hike. Odds are if you’re hitting the trail early it’s because you need to be somewhere in the morning — like work or school. Be realistic about your morning hike.
• Know your pace. Part of being realistic about how far you can hike is knowing how fast you hike. Let’s put that 8th grade algebra to the test: If it takes you 25 minutes to hike a mile and you need to be to be off the trail by 8 so you can get to work by 9, starting at sunrise, how far can you hike if you start at 6:50 a.m. (Answer: 3.)
• Eat breakfast first! It’s likely been at least 8 hours since you last ate. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, you need some fuel on board for the hike.

One last thought for those of you who still mope about not having sunlight after work. The winter solstice this year occurs on Dec. 21 (at 4:19 a.m. EST). That’s the day we have the least amount of sunlight (9 hours, 45 minutes, 39 seconds). However, through a quirk of astrosomething, the sun will actually start setting later beginning Dec. 6 (at 5:02:41 p.m. as opposed to 5:02:39 the day before). By Dec. 21 it will be setting 4 minutes and 11 seconds later, and come the last day of the year, sunset won’t be until 5:13:13 p.m. 

You’ll be hiking after work again before you know it.

The post This winter, hike at sunrise appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

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.

Perhaps that’s why winter succeeds with so many of us, those who ignore her gruff exterior and go out and play with her anyway.

Take those prevailing milky skies, a blur of clouds with murky intention. I’m not going to rain on you, they say. I’m not going to shine on you, either. Rather, winter’s skies provide a soft focus that belies threat. They are tolerant, if not welcoming, in a peculiar way. 

Those filtering skies highlight the bland terrain. Seemingly bland, rather. Brown isn’t typically a color known for nuance. Yet the run-out of leaves surrendered to the forest floor yields a carpet ranging from Desert Storm beige, to Crayola brown, to a sort of creamsicle orange. Nondescript colors on their own, they mix to offer a certain pop, a colorway that is distinctly winter.

There are lessons to be learned from the winter woods. The resilient beech leaf (we forgot to mention its coppery addition to the carpet pallet) that refuses to give up its post until its replacement arrives in spring. The cheerful holly and pines that retain their cheery green despite the cold. The occasional misplaced mountain laurel and rhododendron that assure us it’s ok to live outside our comfort zone.

In the bare winter woods, you can see so much more, so much farther. There are few secrets here, few places to hide: what you see is what you get. It’s stark, honest. A place of reassurance.

And there’s the quiet. So quiet you can hear a squirrel scratch its head the next ridge over as it puzzles over where it stashed its acorns just two months earlier. So quiet you hear a breeze rustle the distant tree tops minutes before it brushes your cheek. So quiet you can hear yourself think.

When we dream of our dream hike, we picture a mountain meadow dotted with wildflowers backdropped against the bluest of skies. We picture ourself laying in the midst of this idyll, head propped on our daypack, cap pulled over our eyes, arms crossed over our chest in the international prone display of contentment. It is, alas, a scene that rarely meets expectations.

Unlike a day in the winter woods, a day that rarely disappoints.

The post Winter: a marvelous monochromatic meander appeared first on GetGoing NC!.