The Sound of Silence: Here’s Why We’re Suckers for Night Treks!
I’ll admit it: I used to be one of those people. You know, the type who loves a good hike, but only when the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and everything is perfectly Instagrammable. I’d lace up my boots, grab my granola bars, and set off for the hills like I was starring in a budget version of a Patagonia ad. Why would anyone in their right mind trek in the dark? I thought it was reserved for horror movie characters and people who get lost. But then… I did a night trek.
Spoiler alert: night treks are awesome. And very different. So buckle up, fellow sunshine hikers, because here’s what I’ve discovered about walking through the wilderness with nothing but a torch, a questionable sense of direction, and the vast emptiness of the night sky.
It’s Quiet. Like ‘A Quiet Place’ Quiet!
You know how everyone tells you to go out into nature for some “peace and quiet”? Well, let me tell you something: daylight treks are not quiet. You’ve got birds having full-on shouting matches, dogs fighting, and a group of overeager hikers stomping behind you like they’re auditioning for a National Geographic documentary. Not to mention, you can still hear the distant hum of cars, and planes, or that one guy yelling into his phone at the trailhead.
Night treks, though? Now that’s quiet. I’m talking a level of silence that makes you wonder if you’ve gone deaf for a second. It’s eerie at first, but then, it’s kind of… nice. You hear things you never noticed before – the wind rustling in ways that feel more dramatic, the crunch of dirt underfoot suddenly sounding more deliberate. Oh, and the occasional hooting and howling in the distance because, of course, the real nocturnal squad comes out to play.
The Starlight Puts Your Morning Daylight to Shame
I used to be one of those daylight chasers—you know, the kind that would roll out of bed at 4 AM to catch the “daylight” on my trail. Now, don’t get me wrong—daylight is great and all, but honestly? The stars during a night trek are like Mother Nature’s humble flex. And I am here for it.
I had no idea the sky had this many stars but they’re real, and they’re everywhere! You don’t just see a handful of stars; you see the whole universe. Every. Single. Shiny. Dot. It’s like someone tossed glitter across the sky and said, “Here, try navigating this without GPS.” At one point, I even started squinting, trying to figure out if I was seeing a shooting star or just losing my vision in the darkness. Either way, 10/10—would gaze again.
Suddenly, Your Senses Have Superpowers
Since you’re basically one headlamp away from being a walking blind person, the rest of your senses go into overdrive. It’s as if your body is saying, “Okay, smartass, you decided to trek in the dark, so let’s turn this up a notch.”
Smells become sharper, sounds are crisper, and you’re suddenly aware of everything around you in a way you never were during the day. That slight breeze? You’re practically tracking its direction with your Spidey senses. That soft crunch behind you? Could be a friend—or, you know, a hungry creature sizing you up. Honestly, night trekking makes you feel like a cross between a nature detective and someone who’s mildly paranoid. It’s weirdly fun.
The funniest part of night trekking? Realizing you’re not the only one feeling both awed and confused. Your fellow night trekkers? They’re right there with you, bonding over shared headlamp malfunctions, ghost stories, and that collective, unspoken thought: “Whose idea was this?”
So, to all my fellow daylight trekkers out there: don’t sleep on night treks (pun absolutely intended). They’re unpredictable, a little terrifying, and infinitely cooler than I expected. And hey, if you survive the occasional misstep or spooked moment, you’ll have a story that’ll trump any day-hike post you’ve ever put on Instagram. Maybe you could join us on one of our night hikes?
Elton Mendonce
