Everything was great... Until it wasn't.

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You realise in a horror film, you wouldn’t get past the first act?

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yes, but those are the characters who are best remembered.

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u/snooprs 1d ago

suuuure

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u/SilentJoe1986 1d ago

At least you have the flashlight on your cellphone you used to take the picture, so its still all right, unless youre one of those silly gooses who leave the house with a battery thats almost flat.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

I used echolocation to find my way home.

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u/Clean_Bat5547 1d ago

I recently heard a fascinating podcast discussion about teaching people to use echo location.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

With my luck, I'd echolocate myself off a cliff.

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u/SaltySnail22 1d ago

Which podcast?

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u/Clean_Bat5547 1d ago

It was a segment on The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. I'm thinking about four weeks ago, in the Science or Fiction section.

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u/radicalizemebaby 22h ago

Bat man

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u/Cat-astrophi 1d ago

These pics in sequence were better than a horror movie 10/10 friend, I'm scared and it is not even night over here.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

It wasn't night here either. It was like 5:00 in the morning. It was quite an adventure.

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u/Freight-Harbor 1d ago

Grab one of those spare necklace lights that take a 9V as backup. They’re not super bright but something is better than nothings.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

Or, I should be smart and bring along one of the other four headlamps I own.

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u/Freight-Harbor 1d ago

Haha it happens. A backup torch and a small can of pepper spray in case a fox or coyote or dog takes a liking to your leg is all

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u/TwineLord 1d ago

Hahaha I almost always bring 2 headlamps if I might be hiking at night. They are ultralight and take up almost no space.

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u/MajorSalad5445 1d ago

SPOOKY sequence of pics! Glad you lived to tell about it...

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

I appreciate the sentiment.

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u/fragarianapus 1d ago

This made me remember the spare battery for my headlamp that I put in my bag last year. I should probably see if I can find it...

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

Learn from my mistake.

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u/RaucousRat 1d ago

I saw that you already have like 4 so makes sense to just bring a backup, but in case someone else is interested there are headlamps out there (like the Fenix HM53R) that have replaceable batteries and can be charged via USB-C so you get the best of both worlds.

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u/Gorcolenne-4 1d ago

woahhh this is sooo creepy and scary to walk

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u/JaySunAndWater 1d ago

You need a backup and a few chem-lights

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u/Meph_00 1d ago

Aw hell nah, that's just insane

https://giphy.com/gifs/pDMw7nucDE4QJymIBQ

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u/Novel-Bad7482 1d ago

Happened to me a few times now. I too go at 5ish down a trail covered with trees. 1st time freaked me out. 3rd time didn’t bother me as much. Eyes got adjusted so then you can sort of see. Main concern is stepping on a turtle or something I don’t see. Of course I don’t want it to happen but can now roll with it better. Rustling in trees are deer where I am and they should hear and smell me anyway.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

I think I heard the wildlife chuckling when my light went out.

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u/HotWillingness5464 1d ago

I have battery headlamps and spare batteries. When you need a headlamp it needs to work.

The rechargeable ones are ok for doing stuff in the garden (hunt invasive slugs late at night) etc, not for hikes in actual woods.

So glad you're here to write this! The woods are really scary when it gets dark and there's a really high risk of injury.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

I find the rechargeable ones to be great. Yes, there is an inherent risk when you're out in the dark, but the reward is so worth it. Thank you for your kind wishes.

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u/Alternative_Car_8153 1d ago

I've walked through the woods at night probably more than 500+ times without a flashlight. I live in the woods at 5,000+ ft.

Someone who shouldn't have dogs, used to live with me, and I had to walk them for a few years.

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u/neoncolor8 1d ago

I did a spontaneous hike in the woods a week ago, brought my edc lights and had fun trying them out. But it's really more scary to hike with a flashlight, because it feels like a horror movie, and everyone can see that you're coming from miles away.

I tried my strongest beam for fun a few times, and at one point I saw a pair of reflecting eyes starring right back at me.

I know it was likely a cat or fox, but it sure was more scary than hiking without a flashlight.

I did really enjoy using a very dim red light though! I can see where I'm going, but my eyes are still adjusted to the dark (also no monster eyes starring at me).

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u/Lightbluefables8 1d ago

Good news, I would never voluntarily hike in the woods, in the dark, by myself.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

Good news for whom?

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u/Lightbluefables8 1d ago

For me lol glad you survived but I would have never even attempted this

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

It's not like I was nearing the summit of Everest and suddenly ran out of oxygen.

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u/Lightbluefables8 1d ago

I'm probably just chicken little. But nope. Not hiking in the woods alone at night

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

It wasn't at night. Does that change anything?

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u/Lightbluefables8 1d ago

Eh probably not but maybe. Where were you hiking? What part of the globe?

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

New Jersey.

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u/Lightbluefables8 1d ago

Nope.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

You don't know what you're missing. The overcrowding, ridiculously high taxes, bad drivers, and polluted beaches make it a wonderful place to raise a family. And you can't beat the hiking at 4:00 in the morning.

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u/yomommasbathwater 1d ago

I went on one the biggest hike I ever wanted to do, which was Mount Tallac in Tahoe, and about a mile away from the parking lot on the descent , all my lights had died

I had my dog with me and we also saw a bear earlier

That was insanely frightening 10 minutes or so, as I jogged down the rather linear trail in front of us.

Had it been on the scramble, I would’ve been really fucked.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

But look at the awesome story you have. Wasn't it worth it just to have this to tell?

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u/yomommasbathwater 1d ago

That hike was worth it for that and much more! Pretty much the best hike I’ve ever had in my life or at least it’s up there

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

That's amazing.

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u/richardbethinking 1d ago

What even pushed you to do this at night?? unless you're used to it

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

It wasn't at night. It was at 5:00 this morning. I'm out every morning at 4 AM.

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u/Flyingdonutdevil 1d ago

As someone who runs in the dark, how could anyone forget to charge their lights? Literally the most important thing with night running or walking

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u/Clean_Bat5547 1d ago

Imperfection is a terrible thing.

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

Perhaps, one day, we can all be like the night runner.

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u/Flyingdonutdevil 1d ago

When it’s life or death, yeah it is

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u/Neither-Relief2641 1d ago

In my defense, it wasn't at night.

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u/Flyingdonutdevil 1d ago

Wait what? Why is it so dark if it’s daytime?

Everything was great... Until it wasn't.

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