Hiking

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or . . . “Traveling Lights”

Hiking lanterns & lighting . . . that reminds me of something funny, well, I think it’s funny anyway, oh, this has got absolutely nothing to do with hiking, backpacking or camping by the way, but I can’t believe how silly I used to be (used to be . . . that’s rich!!) anyway, when I was a small child, a few years ago, I used to think that when people were “traveling light” they were taking a flashlight or hiking lantern with them. I thought that a hiking lantern or flashlight was a traveling light . . . my Uncle would say to me that he was going away and he was “traveling light” and I’d say “well where is it then, can I play with it to make ghosty faces” . . . he must have thought I was a right jerk! (I also used to think that it was illegal to drink and drive because you’d probably spill your drink and crash the car trying to mop it up – please don’t tell anybody I told you that will you, I don’t know what’s come over me, I’ve gone all “confessional”!) Back to the point of the page . . .

Hiking lanterns & lighting are an essential part of your hiking gear . . . it’s fantastic hiking throughout the day, watching the sunrise over a mountain, lake or forest, slapping on your sun protection throughout the heat of the day and enjoying the scenery for miles around from the top of the climb, but if you’re going on an overnight hike it’s gonna be dark a lot too, there isn’t even any light pollution along many of the hiking trails . . . you can see the stars so clearly . . . but you’re going to have to be prepared for the long, dark nights . . . Not scared of the dark are you? What was that twig cracking and leaves rustling? Don’t leave me . . .

So what have we got to choose between? There are three main types of “traveling lights” available;

• Hiking lanterns
• Hiking headlamps
• Hiking flashlights

(There are lots of different types and makes of hiking lanterns . . . that’s just an example), just a minute, did I say three main types of traveling lights for hiking,

better make that four (sometimes)

• moonlight

I know you can’t see it very well, it’s DARK,

and I’ve just thought of another, so it must be five

• firelight – when permitted of course

Singing optional by the way . . . but that ought to scare any critters away,

and here’s another method of lighting when you’re hiking . . . why didn’t I think this through properly before I started making number statements

• the light from your cell phone if you take your cell phone with you, part of the beauty of hiking in the back country for me is not having your cell phone buzzing all day (listen at me trying to sound all busy and popular)  . . . but I do take it and leave it switched off, just in case of emergencies.