Tag: Outdoor

Beginner Guide To Hiking In The Dark

April 10th, 2022
Hiking in the dark, don’t I love it. Even though sometimes people try to discourage me from it, or I become paranoid in the dark.

I love it, and I believe everyone should try it once in their life.

Here are some experiences I learned from hiking in the dark.

Planned Your Route

Go on Google Map or AllTrails and observe all the different routes in that area. Once you select what paths you will take, start marking them. After that, print it out or save a PDF copy to your phone.

I recommend using AllTrails to plan your hiking routes. They have an option that allows you to create a map and smarting route software that makes it easy for you.

Compared to drawing lines everywhere and making the adjustments.

Explore

Hike the route you planned during the day because this allows you to see the environment and how difficult the routes are.

Once you have done your route, make the small adjustments before you decide to hike it in the dark.

Wildlife

You should know what type of wildlife you will encounter in that area. This will help you with how to treat them in order to ensure your safety properly.

Also, you know how properly reacts if you encounter an animal that poses a threat.

Gear

Depending on how far you are traveling, weather and goals. You make those gear adjustments for that situation.

Here is a basic list you need for Night Time Hiking:
- Headlamp
- Extra Batteries
- Small First Aid Kit
- Hydration Backpack that fits all your gear
- Hydration Bladder
- Electrolyte Packets or Tablets
- A Map and Compass
- Extra Water Bottles (Just In Case Your Bladder Breaks)
- A pair of your best-hiking boots or trail shoes
- Snacks and Food
- Pocket Knife
Safety

Tell someone what you are going to do that night and where you are going. Also, you can give a map of the routes you will take.

Just in case shit goes south, at least someone will know the location where you have been.

Always bring a self-defense tool that is easy to carry and lightweight because sometimes you will encounter something that poses a threat to you and have no choice but to defend yourself or give you a chance to run away.

Trail Etiquette

When you are hiking, sometimes you encounter someone doing the same thing. Make sure to point your headlamp down because you want to get blind and distorted by your ass.

I feel like I don’t have to tell anyone this but pick your trash.

Time

Timing is everything when you are hiking.

You always check the weather for the next couple of days in that area and know what season you are in. Make those adjustments on what time you should leave and expect to finish that hike.

I recommend hiking in the dark during a full moon because there is a lot more visibility.

Overall

Go out there and experience it. Don’t let fears hold you back from seeing the beautiful night sky.

I have a question for you guys if you ever hiked in the dark, have you ever experienced something crazy or scary. If so, feel free to share because I would love to read about it.
Three Peak Challenge

April 7th, 2022

The Journey

I was second-guessing myself because I was like, why do I want to do this so late when I could be sleeping that night.

Since I’m writing this, you already know I said fuck it and did it.

I left around 8:00 pm. My goal was to reach the peak of five mountains; however, as you can see in the title, I only did three mountains due to a time limit.

The gear I was carrying was :

Rucker 3.0

Headlamp

Windbreaker

30lb Ruck Plate

Tylenol

Hydration Bladder 3L

Fruits and Snacks

Other Stuff

A few miles later, I arrived at the park. I decided to rest for 5 minutes at one of the tables. Damn, taking off that bag felt amazing, and when I was done resting.

I was dredging putting that bug of burden back up, but I had to. Several miles later, I arrived at my first mountain. I decide not to use my headlamp.

Since, the visibility that night was pretty good.

When I reached the first mountain peak, my knees were hurting a lot. So I took off my rucksack and rested for a tad bit.

Took out the painkillers and a snack. That helps for a little bit.

I was about to reach the top of the second mountain. I saw lights down the hill next to a building. I was like, oh shit.

So I hurried my ass up that hill and reached the peaked. My plan was to reach the parking lot and follow the trail straight towards the fence. Once I reached the parking lot.

I prayed to god nobody was there, and the parking lot was cleared. After that, I quickly checked my phone to make sure I was heading the right way.

Once I reach my destination, I start heading up the third mountain. Off in the distance, I hear coyotes; I wasn’t in the mood to deal with coyotes right now.

When I was going up the third mountain, I was very paranoid for some reason. Every time I heard a noise or every few minutes, I would stop to look around for anything that looked like a threat.

When I made out those mountains, I felt relieved because it was a straight walk from now on. A few minutes later, I saw an animal crawl out of the sewer drain.

I was like, is that raccoon? I saw it go back into the sewer drain. That was something.

However, a few minutes later, I turned around and saw a cop car pass by. Then the cop car decided to do a u-turn and slowly approached me.

Are they going to offer me a ride or what?

NAH

They turned on the high beams, blinded my ass, and sped off. Son of bitches, they couldn’t let me suffer in peace. When I arrived home, I fell asleep.

Overall Experience

I rucked 17 miles within 10 hours. My knee caps were worn out, and I was surprised that my back wasn’t worn out. Thank god I brought that windbreak because it was windy and cold up those mountains.

All I want to do is rest up and get ready for a race tomorrow.
AZ Spartan Race Super AAR

March 22nd, 2022

That Morning

I woke up at 4 am.

I got everything ready, wrapped my ankle, and put on compression knee sleeves. Going into this race, my knee caps were worn out due to yesterday’s rucking session.

I left around 6 am because I knew it would be an hour’s drive.

Course Thoughts

The race started, and the first obstacle was the 4-foot wall. Once you pass it, the trail becomes very compact.

That’s where I lost my shoe because someone stepped on it. I had to hurry my ass up and put on my shoes.

I was holding up a lot of people. You only had like 1 foot of space to run through. You had a fence on your left and a medium-size bush on the right.

However, this won’t be the last time I lost my shoe in this race.

After completing the Olympus, I headed the wrong way, and almost did the penalty looped. The two obstacles I failed were the Hercules Hoist and the Spear Throw.

The issue I had with the hoist was lifting it. At the Spear Throw, I overshot it and ran the penalty loop.

The second time I lost my shoes was at a mud pit. I was walking through the mud, and my left foot got stuck. So I tried to remove it, and my foot slipped out of my shoe.

I tried to put it back on but fuck my luck.

I lost my balance and placed my foot in the mud. You got to be fucking kidding me. Once I passed that mud pit.

I had one shoe on and a muddy sock. I knew if I placed my shoe back, on the inside shoe would be covered in rocky mud. At that very moment, I was like fuck it.

So I remove my muddy sock and place it in my chest pocket. After that, I continue with the next course.

Finishing

I had fun; however, might as well run this shit barefoot next time.

My Results
Range Meal Bar Review:

March 15th, 2022

Fresh Tracks

As I was looking for a meal bar for my next endurance event. I stumble across this and decide to buy it. I bought a six pack which cost me $40.

Each bar has 700 calories, 32g of Total Fat, 91g of Total Carbohydrates, and 19g of Protein.

When I took the bar out of the package, I thought it might taste decent at first glance. However, it tasted fucking good. I ate about three of them within two days.

I’m sad that I’m almost finished with them.

I love how compact it is. It made it easy for me to place it in my rucksack when it was full and there wasn’t enough space.

Plus, it gives me the extra nutrition that my body needs to go even further with one bar.

Compared to other meal bars, I have to take two or three.

I give it a 5/5. I wished it had come with more bars instead of six.

I would recommend it for anyone getting ready for an outdoor event, adventurer, or who wants to carry less weight or doesn’t have enough space in their bag.