Picture this…it’s dark now, there is no full moonlight and you’re alone. You’ve lost your flashlight, your knife, your compass and your mind. Right now you’re already thinking that only an idiot would let themselves get in this position.
But your hunters and Bigfoot researchers know that only an idiot would think that only an idiot would find themselves in that position. I don’t care how much experience you have, you forget things, get turned around out there and fright happens. That’s why most will try to prepare for anything.
Generally everyone is afraid of the woods at night even the most prepared with their fire, torch gun, machete, rifle, compass, flashlights, bug spray and a whole bunch of very similar individuals accompanying them. It takes a lot of trust to go out there with someone in the dark or otherwise.
I’ve been in Freetown Forest at night with nothing but my phone and one sister. But even knowing your companions, the thought of what you’re getting yourself into is creepy. And you certainly don’t want to be lost at night out there in an area you don’t know.
There is an actual disorder and people who suffer from a deep fear of the woods at night. This is not an uncommon feeling and it has a name…Nyctohylophobia. You could have every superstar survival man accompanying you, with all those weapon and goodies I listed above with them, and it wouldn’t stop the fear and panic from overwhelming you if you were still out there when darkness fell. If you suffer from this, even standing at the tree line in your backyard will give you that same feeling as being lost in a dark forest. So if that sounds familiar to you at all, don’t go out there at night. You have nothing to prove to yourself or anyone else that’s worth being terrified. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, everyone feels some degree of healthy fear out there in the dark.
For fun I asked my friends what kinds of situations they thought I could get myself into if I were in the woods alone at night…here is their list:
- Losing my car keys, (okay that’s a daily event but what will I need those for in the woods).
- Flashlight will die immediately
- I’ll trip and break my foot on a stump, (not a hard guess, I do that just getting to the car).
- An owl will fly into me and poke my eye out🙄really guys?, (that was a June bug and just that one time).
- Falling off a cliff, ( what the hell? I’m not going up a cliff at night) if I fall off one it wasn’t an accident. Remember that.
While those are all meant to be funny, and a little true, here are some of the things that could really go wrong, and none of them would be remotely amusing:
- Lose your way, no map or compass
- Getting an injury, no first aide kit
- Temperature dropping and you don’t have adequate clothing
- No matches, food, or water
- No weapons and you could come upon a bear or wolf or not so friendly cryptid of any kind.
- Not letting anyone know where you were headed, almost guarantees no rescue
- No phone or dead phone
I’m sure there are many more I haven’t thought of and I don’t want to think about them. There are many professional hunters, campers, researchers and hikers that go missing all the time, yes I believe some could be, but definitely not all are Bigfoot related. So you have to be prepared for those situations too. Some accidents are related to a lack of common sense and risky behavior. I know I’m not always prepared. My love of feeling free out there, being sans electronics etc. my want of being accepted peacefully out there without fear, might be good for acceptance from the Big Guy and some squirrels but really bad for everything else. So while I’m writing this, I’m attempting to drill some of these safety measures into my own head. I’m close! I have my Fabulous Starry opossum backpack because a Bigfoot one would be really giving away the game out there, (and slightly embarrassing for him to catch me with) and now I have to dig out that list I made for my first night’s trip to Freetown, and fill it up. Then make my hiking partner carry it, if I have one. Did I say that aloud???
As silly as I like to be I’m very serious that I want you to be safe and feel safe out there. Learn what your limits are..and remember terror is not a good navigator…Bigfoot is out there somewhere no matter what time of day it is…
Coast to Coast Am, video On missing hunters..
https://youtu.be/CVn0ZHAVw1U
What should be in your pack out there: Tutorial from the Tacticaldefender on YouTube and Instagram at @tacticaldefender
https://youtu.be/ly_jcu2sCzY
Starry Opossum can be found at @itsmesesame on Instagram
Articles of note:
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/why-do-so-many-people-disappear-from-national-parks/
https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost
Pictures from Google/public, complied with fair use act
Copyright September 2018, revised September 2020 property of Bigfoot Mountain ™, all rights reserved.
Sasysquatchgirl 