Out after dark

[redcollective]

Tis getting quite dark, quite early now so my usual 5 miler in the evening when I'm not working late is getting a little interesting...

Walking though the wood last night - thought I was being watched - I was! about thirty sets of eyes from his lordships deer peering back at me from a nearby field, then a loud bark from one of them and they were off. Excellent

However one thing struck me as I neered a more populated area on my circuit - I felt compelled to put on my torch just so people didn't think I was creeping about in the woods rather than going for an energetic stomp around the estate.

What do other people think about tramping about rural parts at night - is it better to get on with it as quietly and unobserved as possible or make it easy for anyone to see you and perhaps be less likely to startle.

I guess my question arises cos I sometimes feel a bit self conscious out in the woods, especially cos I tend to wear greens, and look a bit different to your average jogger or bobble-hatted dog walker.

Any thoughts?

Stu

[The Joker]

Hey Stu,

Thats a really good point.

Wearing ya normal country greens (as i call em) in the evening when out for a jolly might make people think your up to no good....ie poacher.

So maybe using ya torch might be better......Its a tuff call :rolleyes:

[spamel]

Adopt a cheerful whistle as you walk along, you'll have no worries!!

[Jodie]

Speaking as a lone female wandering around Greenwich park at twilight (spooky
but great) I'd be quite happy if people were a bit more visible. A chap was
practising his rollerblading along a very flat bit - didn't see him until he
whooshed past me, which was a bit startling.

Instead of a torch would reflective bits on your clothing help? It might have the
effect of reassuring people that you're not trying to sneak up on them unannounced.
I suppose it depends how dark it is of course!

I hadn't really thought about the 'not being seen as a poacher' aspect until I'd read
that reply - that's a good point. The Greenwich deer are safely locked up and the
bats are too quick anyway ;-)

[Spikey DaPikey]

i just walk like i always do, quiet and confident :)

[longshot]

personally i'd use the flashlight just so that no one called the constable to report a poacher or worst rreports that someone is up to something more nefarious. :yikes:

dean

[bilko]

Whenever i am out in the woods or country i make a consiouse effort to say a confident but nice " goodmorning" ( Goodmorrow etc ). Usually people say goodmorning back and feel at ease.
If i were walking after dark i would be temted to make a low snorting/grunting noise like a hog :lmao: but would probably just make a false cough so the person approaching wasn't startled.

Sorry, silly mood :D

[Tadpole]

Tis getting quite dark, quite early now so my usual 5 miler in the evening when I'm not working late is getting a little interesting...

Walking though the wood last night - thought I was being watched - I was! about thirty sets of eyes from his lordships deer peering back at me from a nearby field, then a loud bark from one of them and they were off. Excellent

However one thing struck me as I neered a more populated area on my circuit - I felt compelled to put on my torch just so people didn't think I was creeping about in the woods rather than going for an energetic stomp around the estate.

What do other people think about tramping about rural parts at night - is it better to get on with it as quietly and unobserved as possible or make it easy for anyone to see you and perhaps be less likely to startle.


Stu
Sad to say but I’m one of those people who are paranoid enough, that when tramping about in the not so local woods (I worked nights for a year or two in the headquarters of a multinational quarry and roadstone company), I’d be the one who is listening intently for “out of the norm” noise. I tended to (and still do when out and about at night) stop and ‘hide’ at the slightest noise. I slip in to some dark space or shadow and wait until I’m sure what the noise is, (are). Wearing all black clothing helped but most of the time it was not necessary. People are so incredibly noisy that if you are concentrating, you can hear them many meters away, kids especially.

If they were some harmless walker or drunk on their way from the pub I’d let them past me without bothering them. If it was some oik or local nerdowell, I’d find out what they were doing and stop it. So long as you don’t make any noise you are ok, people are so night blind from carrying torches that you just don’t see you. Even the light from the display screen on a mobile phone is enough to ruin your night vision for a short while. :rolleyes: