thisI love the woods at night! The only thing I ever worry about is other people.
I'm not necessarily afraid of the dark, but there have been times when I've been deep in the woods alone on a day hike and I got the heebie jeebies for no reason other than fear of what I can't see. noises in the dark scare me more than anything. Hearing something and not knowing what it is and not being able to look at it freak me out.
There is also the issue of caves or holes in the ground that may not be very visible, even to the naked eye that's adjusted to the dark. Break an ankle or fall down a hundred foot pit and you will be seriously screwed.
Reading these posts makes me glad that we have no caves or ravines in our flat part of the state.
yeah, Indiana doesn't have a lot like some states down south. But Southern Indiana has quite a few. I have done ridge walks all through Hoosier National and other places down south. There are a lot of small caves that many people never see but they are big enough to swallow a man and kill him if he fell in.
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The ball cap has caught a few sapling=weeds, stickers trying to scalp me. Bugs fall out of the trees and feel them hit the cap, even an acorn in the fall with a slight wind can wack you. it is a requirement for trekking.
Go for an easy stroll some night with your headlamp off. If you have a "Hunter's Moon", or a 1/2 moon you will see the difference. Spray your pants and neckband with bug spray too. no use being steak to chiggers/squidders. They bite your face too, so wipe a little and do not use after shave! The Squittos will devour you.
Good luck. Get prepped.