Safety Tips for Shorter Days

The Fall and Winter seasons may be descending upon us, but for many, our outdoor agendas don't change all that much. Cooler weather can make just about any outdoor enthusiast jump for joy and the prospect of snow will have the POW lovers hollering. But, with a change in season (this season particularly) comes a drastic shift in one thing we all rely on - Daylight. Now, that's not to say that the fun stops, on the contrary, the fun might just be getting started. Night climbing, dawn patrol, sunset and sunrise hikes, they all give us that thrill we crave when Summer adventures finally end, and we should keep seeking them. However, seeking them responsibly and with the right gear to do so only allows us to do them for more years to come. Today we're talking safety tips for adventures when the daylight leaves the party.

Be Prepared

Whether you are choosing to be out past dusk intentionally, or it happens by mistake, having the right gear on you will make the experience far easier to handle. Preparedness in this case looks like:

• Having a headlamp with extra batteries on hand
  • This one is a little self explanatory. If you're out past dark and loose the juice in your headlamp, you're outta luck.
• Carrying enough water/snack for the time you will spend out at night
  • Hydration needs and hunger do not suddenly disappear in the dark (like most other things do.) Remember to continue to fuel and hydrate throughout the time of your activity. An incident involving hunger or thirst in extreme instances can be much more difficult to handle without daylight.
• Bring Spare Layers
  • An extra fleece, gloves, and a hat are the bare minimum when out at this time of year. especially in the mountain, temps drop quickly and while you might be working up a sweat for a large portion of your time out, the moments you stop for rest are equally as important to prep for.
• Having a physical map or downloaded map on your phone
  • Because you won't be able to see the trails/routes you're on, having some sort of system to help you get your bearings is key. After all, accidental bush-wacking in the dark isn't what you came out to do (which leads me to...)
• Packing a portable phone charger
  • If your map or GPS is on your phone, bring a portable charger. If your phone dies and you're not sure where to turn, turning around might be your best option.
• Letting somebody know where you will be
  • This is a little bit of a twofer. If you are out by yourself, tell at least one person where you are going. If you are out with a party, encourage everyone to do the same. This applies for daylight adventures, too, but the more people who are in the know, the easier a potential rescue can be.

Each of the actions listed might not always be applicable, but strongly suggested because you never know what will happen. If a mistake happens outside of daylight, it can be even more difficult to recover from an incident. This is by no means a stab at deterring you from adventuring in the dark, but rather, ensuring you're able to do it for years to come. In need of gear for the season? Check out everything from skis to base layers on geartrade.com. As always, have fun and be safe; we'll see you out there.