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#269070 - 04/15/14 02:35 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor]
Outdoor_Quest Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/17/09
Posts: 305
Loc: Central Oregon
Thank you for all the feed back and links to other info.

I agree. You have to take a very measured approach to night time travel.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

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#269082 - 04/15/14 06:16 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
benjammin Offline
Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
One of our little informal training exercises with the Oregon Grotto was to climb in a select lava tube cave a couple miles, then kill the lights and try to find our way out. It is almost impossible not to lose your nerve and start flinching after bumping your head a dozen times. Such a complete absence of light does enhance your hearing, in unsettling ways until you get used to it. Climbing over the breakdown was a real pain.

It was a good exercise. But not for the faint hearted. 2 miles underground in the dark took the better part of 6 hours, and that in a cave we were already familiar with. In big chambers, it is dangerously easy to get completely turned around, and start back down the way you came.
_________________________
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

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#269109 - 04/16/14 02:47 AM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1418
Loc: Nothern Ontario
I think there is a big difference between hiking through the dark on an established trail vs doing actual land navigation in the dark.

When we do long day mountain ascents in the fall and early spring, it is not uncommon to set out in the early dark am on an established trail. However we are typically equipped with the proper lighting gear which includes headlamps and handheld flashlights when needed.

On the other hand, land navigation at night and not on any trail is not something I do as there are far too many chances of getting injured or worse.
_________________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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#269117 - 04/16/14 03:58 AM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Teslinhiker]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
It really helps a lot if you have been in the area previously, preferably during the day
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Geezer in Chief

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#269119 - 04/16/14 04:38 AM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: hikermor]
AKSAR Offline
Veteran

Registered: 08/31/11
Posts: 1233
Loc: Alaska
I don't see any problems with navigating in the dark? smile
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"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

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#269141 - 04/16/14 08:15 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: AKSAR]
Leigh_Ratcliffe Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/31/06
Posts: 1355
Loc: United Kingdom.
Originally Posted By: AKSAR
I don't see any problems with navigating in the dark? smile


I do. As has been previously pointed out, you only do movement at night if you know EXACTLY what you are doing or the alternative is certain death.

Cross country navigation is hazardious enough in daylight. PARTICULARLY in broken terrain. doing the same thing at night multiplies the risks by an order of magnitude. that is why survivors are encouraged to STAY PUT.
_________________________
I don't do dumb & helpless.

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#269145 - 04/16/14 08:48 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
gonewiththewind Offline
Veteran

Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
Soldiers around the world, most especially in the U.S., do night land navigation as a matter of course. It does take practice. It can be more dangerous. It is not impossible.

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#269151 - 04/16/14 10:15 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
I find the greatest problems with night navigation is always present when I started getting over confident in my abilities.
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

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#269825 - 05/11/14 02:34 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Leigh_Ratcliffe]
Outdoor_Quest Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/17/09
Posts: 305
Loc: Central Oregon
Lots and lots of feedback - thank you.

I wanted to learn some of the considerations the hiker/hunter must mull over before launching out at night.

The short section on www.landnavigation.org is worth looking at

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

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#269826 - 05/11/14 02:49 PM Re: Land Navigation in Darkness [Re: Outdoor_Quest]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
There is one more point to make about night travel which pertains especially to deserts and other hot places. The relative coolness of nighttime can make that the most feasible time to travel, and this can be crucial if water is scarce. In most desert situations, you will frequently have an open sky and the amount of light available to dark adapted eyes is surprisingly bright.
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Geezer in Chief

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