Night Hiking in the Colorado Rockies: When prepared no need to be scared Kelsey Peterson Darkness ignites awareness into every inch of my being and it s impossible to see two inches past the tip of my nose. The pine trees close in overhead and the rustle of branches echoes through the forest. I stand frozen with no certainty of surrounding, only the subtle caress of a light breeze wafting vanilla- honey sap to tickle the hairs in my nose. Then, forcing a dozen immediate steps is another echo, echo echo. There is nothing quite like a night hike in the Colorado Rockies. Though it s important to be prepared and maintain a heightened awareness in the dark, mountain night hikes are beautiful, exhilarating adventures that nobody should shy away from. The best way to understand what it takes to stay safe while hiking at night is to get experience hiking during the day first, said John Wendt, rangeland ecology major at Colorado State University who has summited 15 different peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation mountains known in the hiking community as 14ers. After leading and participating in several multi- night backpacking trips, including the Olympic Rainforest and Coast in Washington and canyons in the desert Southwest, Wendt has an extensive understanding of night hike safety. He has worked at Rocky Mountain, Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks, and during hiking season, he finds himself hiking in the dark every couple of weeks. What has all this experience taught him? Preparation is key. Every hike has its own safety considerations and experience is certainly the best teacher, Wendt said. In general, one should always have a map and the skills to use it, a well- lit trail, whether that is by moonlight or a headlamp and a realistic understanding of one s limitations. Tall pines block my light until the Milky Way emerges suddenly, busting through the branches that towered above seconds before and delivering from my lips a hard exhale of relief. A wooden bridge stands outstretched over a moonlit river, which marks the path to restoring inner amity. Prolonged exposure to the dark forces my eyes to adapt just in time to see the silky brown fur of a white- spotted fawn standing ahead of the bridge. Startled to a halt, its round, black eyes seem both frightened and curious. After a few long seconds of stillness, it slips off into the night with a silence so hushed one might wonder if it were ever there to begin with. Colorado wildlife is nothing to fear, but keep in mind it is important to be polite, respectful and knowledgeable of the area you are visiting. Just remember, you are in their home, and it s important not to act like the loud, obnoxious guest who puts
their dirty feet on the table and runs their sticky fingers all over the kitchen counters. There are appropriate responses to different mountain animals when encountering them in the dark, so know when to stand your ground and when to retreat. When hiking at night, it is especially difficult to observe hazards, such as wild animals or poisonous plants with any level of advance notice, Wendt said. It is always a good idea to be aware of these hazards ahead of time. Most trailheads have warnings about potential hazards, such as increased bear or mountain lion activity and can be avoided by simply staying on the trail. There are countless trails to hike in the Colorado Mountains. So, how do you know which ones are acceptable to hike at night and how do you choose one? It depends on the type of hike you are looking for. There are various durations, environments and levels of difficulty for each hike, and your best bet is to research the area you re looking at. Scott Warren s book, 100 Classic Hikes in Colorado, covers all major mountain ranges and categorizes hikes by distance, difficulty, time, elevation, management, wilderness status and season. The book also lists the highlights of each trail and provides a corresponding map. Each hike begins with an information block that presents essential facts at a glance, Warren writes. These facts will help you decide whether or not a hike is right for you. In his book, Warren also suggests plenty of preparation before you go and lists what he calls the Ten Essentials the most important being hydration. Always remember that it s never safe to drink surface water without purifying it first, as you will most likely contract giardia, a microscopic organism that causes severe diarrhea. Bring your own supply of clean water, a water purifier or something to boil the water in for ten minutes or longer. Research and knowledge are important in maintaining safety on night excursions; however, it is impossible to predict and research every hazard that might come your way. Above all else, common sense is crucial to staying safe on a night hike. When you ve got your safety covered, enjoying the excitement of a night outdoors can be a breathtaking, unforgettable experience. But, like Lay s potato chips, you can t have just one the Colorado mountains will draw you in time and time again. I think that the desire to be outside is not necessarily something that can ever be fully satisfied, Wendt said. It is driven by our wish to be absorbed into what is beautiful; we are merely onlookers for the time being. I think that the sense of wonder that we experience in the midst of nature is a pointer to something greater.
Approaching the bridge, hard gravel turns to squishy sand beneath my feet. Dozens of little lights seem to be floating above the ever- flowing mountain water, which is pure and darkened by the dusk. It is like stepping into a picture book where fairies pirouette on pine needles and fish flounder to an underwater tune. Here flows a magical, illuminated river deep inside the woodland with no town lights to drown out the stars, which shine fables and mysteries down on the cool, nocturnal air. It is none other than a classic night hike in the Colorado Rockies. Breakout Box: How to react when encountering animals in the wilderness at night: a. Bear Most nighttime bear encounters take place at camp when people have improperly managed their camp. If a black bear is rummaging through your camp at night, your best bet is to scare it away with shouting and loud noises. b. Mountain Lion Mountain lions are nocturnal predators; they are typically active from dusk till dawn. Fortunately, they tend to be frightened of humans so it is a good idea to travel in groups and speak loudly so as to alert them to your presence. People have been stalked and killed by mountain lions in the past. If you encounter a mountain lion it is important to remember not to run. Running can trigger a mountain lion s predatory instincts. Instead, try to be as intimidating as possible in size and noise. c. Deer/Elk These critters will usually just run away from you. Just don t do anything stupid around them. d. Moose Moose can be pretty dangerous. Defensive mothers and males during the mating season are especially worthy of caution. Fortunately, they aren t very active at night. If you do encounter an aggressive moose, back away slowly and avoid provoking a charge. e. Snake I don t expect to encounter dangerous snakes at night in most environments. They tend to be less active in the cooler temperatures of the night. Fortunately, in this region, rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes to worry about. They usually warn you ahead of time and if you do encounter one, keep a distance and avoid provoking it. f. Skunk I don t really have any experience with skunks. If you see one, stay very far away. If you smell one, be on your toes. - Courtesy of John Wendt
Breakout Box: The Ten Essentials as listed by Scott Warren: 1. Navigation 2. Sun protection 3. Insulation 4. Illumination 5. First- aid supplies 6. Fire 7. Repair kit and tools 8. Nutrition 9. Hydration 10. Emergency shelter Photographs: