Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
I spend a lot of time out in the woods alone, because that's what my job requires of me. I have been out walking around by myself in the dark many times, and you learn not to worry about it. In fact I frequently go for walks in the woods near my home in the dark all the time, and I bet if you did the same, it wouldn't bother you after a short time. Now, don't go looking for danger. If grizzlies are a reality, then don't wander in the dark. I'm guessing the main reason you got freaked out is because of the wind reducing your hearing, which is the sense we rely on most in the dark. Spend a little more time outside, in the woods, on a calm night, and you'll learn to enjoy it.
All that being said, I was at a friends house, and we got to drinking one night. Before I knew it, I was pretty drunk, so I decided to walk home at about midnight, rather than drive. It was two miles to get to the other side of town, and then a three mile walk through the woods, on a trail, to get to my place. There are no street lights out that way, and there was no moon that night. Now, that is dark! It felt darn near enveloping. All I had was a mini mag flashlight to light my way. It was something out of a creepy movie or a video game. The entire time I was walking, I kept kicking up deer. At one point, one was actually running down hill toward me because it was just as disoriented as I. Now there are no bears where I live, and no wolves either, but there are huge numbers of mountain lions. There are so many that a lion tag can be bought over the counter. The record is a 179 lb. cat shot about 15 miles south of where I was living at the time. This is obviously a concern to me. The entire walk, I was waiting to see that eye shine staring at me.
Now I did have a loaded .357 in my backpack, but I chose not to handle it while intoxicated, as this would only have resulted in bad things. I just walked with a folded jack knife in one hand, ready to unfold it if need be, and the light in the other. In hind sight I should have left it at my buddy's house and picked it up the next day. However he was drunker than I, and I didn't want to leave, or even stash it there while he was that drunk. He is known to have some pretty bad notions when drinking.
Anyway, that is the most frightening night time experience I've ever had. I'm guessing the booze made it seem worse than it really was, and I’m glad I chose not to handle a gun at that moment. Jumpy and drunk is a bad condition to be in when handguns are involved.
All that being said, I was at a friends house, and we got to drinking one night. Before I knew it, I was pretty drunk, so I decided to walk home at about midnight, rather than drive. It was two miles to get to the other side of town, and then a three mile walk through the woods, on a trail, to get to my place. There are no street lights out that way, and there was no moon that night. Now, that is dark! It felt darn near enveloping. All I had was a mini mag flashlight to light my way. It was something out of a creepy movie or a video game. The entire time I was walking, I kept kicking up deer. At one point, one was actually running down hill toward me because it was just as disoriented as I. Now there are no bears where I live, and no wolves either, but there are huge numbers of mountain lions. There are so many that a lion tag can be bought over the counter. The record is a 179 lb. cat shot about 15 miles south of where I was living at the time. This is obviously a concern to me. The entire walk, I was waiting to see that eye shine staring at me.
Now I did have a loaded .357 in my backpack, but I chose not to handle it while intoxicated, as this would only have resulted in bad things. I just walked with a folded jack knife in one hand, ready to unfold it if need be, and the light in the other. In hind sight I should have left it at my buddy's house and picked it up the next day. However he was drunker than I, and I didn't want to leave, or even stash it there while he was that drunk. He is known to have some pretty bad notions when drinking.
Anyway, that is the most frightening night time experience I've ever had. I'm guessing the booze made it seem worse than it really was, and I’m glad I chose not to handle a gun at that moment. Jumpy and drunk is a bad condition to be in when handguns are involved.