Article: A great night out

Feeling tired? Tangled up in work? Too busy? In need of some recreation but stuck for ideas? Have you considered having a really good night out? Not the sort that leaves you with headache, indigestion, large credit card bill, argument and poor sleep, but a real night out; a night out of your usual environment and out in the bosom of Auntie Nature.

Warm feet and cold nose, a view of the Milky Way from a summit far above artificial light pollution, a shooting star, brushing frozen breath from the shell of ones sleeping bag, the massage of rain falling on nylon, the whisper of wind caressed leaves, the fall of waves on a beach, settling down for a brew whilst everyone else is making the long descent back to their car…

When was the last time you had a great night out? In what ways was it enjoyable? What were the benefits to you?

Sleeping out in the winter is a particularly rich opportunity for sleep. I remember after one mid winter’s day climbing was ended by failing light my climbing partner and I retired to our tent and sleeping bags. After eating and playing one or two games of cards we turned in. After a normal night’s quota of sleep I woke and ventured out for a look at the weather. Hmm, I thought surveying the moon sparkling snowscape, must soon be time to get cracking. Then I glanced at my watch and noticed it was midnight. Ah well, I thought, I’ll just have to have another night’s sleep and back into the cocoon of my bag I went. Two night’s worth of sleep and a great day of climbing all in 24 hours.

There are lots of ways of taking a night out and some of them won’t be recreational. Here are some questions to consider:

1. Where should I go?      

2. How should I prepare?

• Study a weather forecast. These are very helpful and allow you to carry minimum gear. Why carry a tent and thick sleeping bag if the forecast is for 12 ̊̊C and dry.
• Be wildlife aware. There are parts of the world where sleeping out puts one on the menu for other species. One man I read about awoke to the unpleasant sensation of being eaten by a polar bear. Fortunately for him, his friend had been woken by the noise and always slept with a rifle. Insects can be a useful aid to weight loss but if you dislike being sucked lighter by midges, mosquitoes or other biting invertebrates take a repellent or net. Or move. There are usually places only a few hundred metres away where a breeze is keeping the hungry ladies at bay.
• Be company aware. Does your friend snore? If so pack ear plugs.
• If it’s cold, arrange gear so that you don’t have to leave the warmth of your tent, bivvy or snow hole for natural necessities. Having a pee pot and stove & water within reach allows one to loo and brew without the trauma of fully waking, dressing and leaving shelter. Label containers.
• Be ready for unfamiliar sounds. Natural sounds are generally aids to a good night’s sleep. Running water is a favourite lullaby for me. Some natural sounds are less soporific. One night I became guilty of cruelty to an animal. It was a field cricket and was stridulating loudly, shrilly and without ceasing next to my tent. I should have moved my tent or entered into a mature conversation with him. Instead I urinated into his burrow. The sound stopped and I went to sleep.

3. What should I take?

• Shelter? This depends on where you’re going. Experiment. A tent offers much security from the elements but is heavy to carry and requires a decent sized pitch. A tarp saves weight but is not much use in a high wind. A bivvy bag is great for sleeping in but is a faff to enter or leave without getting soaked if the weather is wet.
• Mat? Carrying a mat may seem like an unnecessary burden but the insulating properties of good one mean that a much lighter sleeping bag will be needed. Self inflating mattresses tend to be warmer, comfier, heavier and more puncturable than closed cell foam rolls. Because a foam roll is tougher it has the advantage of being enhanceable with a layer of natural cushioning. I arrived at a pleasant but somewhat uneven bivvy site one evening. Remembering Enid Blyton’s advice and knowing that removing heather prompts its regeneration and usefulness as a foodplant for wildlife I began gathering armfuls of the stuff and by layering it with the thick twigs below I soon had a mattress / mat combo as comfy as any bed I’ve ever slept in.
• Sleeping bag? Down tends to be warmer, lighter and longer lasting; synthetic fill bags retain their insulating properties better when wet.
• Stove & pan? Extra weight but allows morale boosting and sterilized hot meals and drinks to be made.
• Food and drink? So much more than sustenance. With a bit of thought and creativity eating and drinking can become a truly recreational experience.
• Pillow? No. Improvise.
• Pyjamas? Now you’re being silly. Think, what don’t I need? Less is more. The simpler the experience the more powerfully recreational it will be.

Recipe for a great night out?

• Exercise
• Journey
• Solitude or like-minded company
• Hearty meal
• Beautiful location
• A flat piece of ground / snow or calm berth.
• Stay warm and dry

Have a great night out.