How to navigate at night or in low visibility - techniques, strategies, tips and tricks!
Night Navigation
We need to recognise and accept that navigating at night, in low visibility, or under challenging conditions like windy weather or hard terrain, requires techniques, specific systems and strategies. It's about balancing having all the tools in the toolbox ready and deciding how best to use them at the moment. In this article you will find my observations, tips and tricks of how to navigate well at night.
The key question is:
‘What is the safest, most efficient (both physically and mentally), and easiest way for me to do this?’
For example, you may face boggy ground and decide to avoid it, or encounter rocky and wet terrain that forces you to adjust your route. These decisions rely on information from the map and your ability to adapt strategies on the go. Let’s delve deeper into the challenges and strategies of night navigation.
Observations on Night Navigation
Over the years, I’ve noticed that many people are unaccustomed to being in the dark and often feel vulnerable. This vulnerability can lead to panic, rushed decision-making, and a chaotic attempt to "find" oneself on the map. This uncertainty creates a sense of urgency because locating yourself reduces that vulnerability.
The transition from summer (or good visibility) navigation to night navigation is significant. In the dark, you must use more tools more consistently, and the cognitive effort required to process and retain information increases significantly.
Key Insights from my observations
1. Mindset:
Many people focus on being "right" or giving the "right answer," but navigation, especially at night, is a fluid and dynamic process. What works for one person may not work for another. It's essential to approach the task with an open and adaptable mindset.
2. Gendered Perspectives:
Women and underrepresented groups may have additional concerns about being out at night due to societal conditioning. These concerns are valid and often rooted in experience, highlighting the importance of awareness, preparation, practice, and confidence-building.
3. Preparation and Organisation:
Systems are vital. Knowing where your compass, phone, spare head torch, snacks are, staying warm, and keeping your gear organised can significantly impact your success.
Set yourself up for success before leaving home.
Strategies for Night Navigation
Developing a Positive Learning Mindset
It's crucial to understand and manage your inner dialogue when facing a challenging skill or situation. Ask yourself:
- How do I feel about being in the dark or in mountainous terrain at night?
- What thoughts arise when I’m learning something new or stepping out of my comfort zone?
Acknowledging these emotions and thoughts helps you plan and prepare. For example, bring spare torches with fresh batteries, practice with supportive individuals, and cultivate a calm, coaching mindset to manage one challenge at a time. Building confidence is an equally important skill.
Tools for Night Navigation
Your toolbox for night navigation should include:
1. Contours:
- Recognising terrain features such as changes in slope angle, aspect, or unique shapes (e.g., ring contours, reentrants, spurs).
- Feeling the terrain underfoot to determine slopes or flat areas.
- This can be a continuous development in visibility and poor visibility
2. Measuring Distance:
- Using a romer on your compass and map scale to measure distances accurately.
- Double-checking measurements to ensure precision.
3. Timings and Pacing:
- Calculating your walking speed based on conditions and terrain.
- Knowing your 100-meter pace count
4. Using a Compass:
- Taking and following a bearing.
- Using back bearings and ground-to-map bearings to confirm location.
5. Catching Features:
- Planning for features that indicate when you've gone too far
6. Recognising Non-Useful Information:
- Avoid focusing on distant or unidentifiable objects. Stick to features within 100 meters radius to start with.
7. Relocating
- Being able to gather evidence of where you are to relocate at each destination
Strategy and Problem-Solving
Night navigation often involves micro-navigation (short sections or "legs").
For each leg:
- Evaluate your needs (hydration, clothing adjustments, etc.).
- Choose from multiple strategies (e.g., following a bearing, breaking the leg into smaller parts, or hand railing a feature).
- Learn from each leg to refine your approach for the next one.
- Reflecting on what works and why builds confidence and a positive repertoire of evidence, tools and strategies of why you’re good at night navigation
Adjusting Strategies En Route
Terrain rarely matches expectations, so adaptability is key.
Examples include:
- Changing routes to avoid steep or hazardous ground.
- Splitting tasks among group members (e.g., sending someone ahead to mark a spot).
- Contouring around obstacles
Confirming Your Destination
Evidence is critical. Collect at least three pieces of evidence, such as:
- Contour shapes or features matching your map.
- Observations made while pacing in multiple directions.
- Consistency between ground conditions and map expectations.
- 360 circle looking at all the contours lines around you
Practical Hacks for Night Navigation
- Write your pacing numbers (e.g., 100m, 75m, 50m, 25m) on your map for easy reference.
- Use pacing beads to track distance walked without losing count.
- Attach a watch with large buttons to your rucksack for easy access, even with gloves on.
- Spare head torch (different make and model to the one you’re using!) and spare batteries
Night navigation is a skill that combines preparation, tools, mindset, and adaptability. It challenges your problem-solving abilities and requires a structured approach to decision-making. By building a robust system, developing confidence in your tools, and creating a calm, focused mindset, night navigation becomes a rewarding and a very satisfying experience. For me, a continuous reflective practice is important, it helps focus the mind on what works well, and this reinforces what techniques you use and strategies that work for you. As well as this, it builds your confidence each time!
Remember, night navigation is not about being perfect—it's about being efficient, safe, and adaptable, figuring out what worked well and being able to relocate if it doesn’t. Each journey provides an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve.
Get in touch for private bookings or check out my courses here.
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