No matter what "night people" like my son Justin will tell you, human beings aren't nocturnal. Compared to truly nocturnal critters, we are poorly equipped: our eyes are small and not designed for optimum low-light viewing. We are designed to sleep at night and be active during the day.

It seems that most of us are having to work longer and harder these days just to stay even. At this time of year, that often means being at work when the sun's just rising and coming home in the dark. When do you find time for getting outdoors and having fun?

Your weekends are already full and even if you spend both days outdoors, two days a week for having fun is not enough.

What about the night? If you can get outdoors comfortably and safely after work, you've just increased your opportunities to enjoy the outdoors seven days a week.

At this time of year, night hiking can get you out and moving after the sun sets. When it gets a little colder, you'll be able to add skating, sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to the mix.

To enjoy being out in the evening you have to dress for the inevitable chill. Several recent columns have pretty well covered (pardon the pun) the subject of dressing properly for outdoor activity, but if you need advice, contact me.

Moving safely in the dark is another matter. It makes sense to carry a light with you on any night outing, but don't assume that you are going to use it all the time

With electric lights that can be flipped on and off at will (except in the aftermath of last-year's ice storm) we've forgotten that, most of the time, you can see quite well at night from moonlight, starlight and, unfortunately, the light pollution that scatters about the atmosphere.

In fact, unless there are heavy clouds or you are walking beneath a heavy canopy of evergreens, after you've given your eyes a chance to really adjust to the dark, you won't need or want a light - the night is more magic without one.

On most nights, you should easily be able to see at least well enough to walk on open ground. Here's a trick: You actually see better in the dark when you don't look directly at something. Try to keep your eyes moving side-to-side, or look above where you are going to step. It works.

The last two evenings, my son Justin and I have strolled (okay, he's strolled, I've huffed and puffed) up a nearby ski hill to watch the sunset. It really wasn't much of a hike, but it was enough to get our lungs working and our blood and conversation flowing. The glow of the setting sun over nearby hills was brilliant orange; the lights in the valley twinkled as we walked down in nearly total darkness. By the time we got down, we were de-stressed and ready to enjoy the evening.

Life isn't a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Nature's night lights

The moon is always a perfect excuse to get out for a night adventure. The website at aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.htm lets you calculate the moon phase for virtually any date, but it's all in Universal Time, so you'll have to do some math. Do yourself a favor and plan a full-moon walk, ski or skate sometime this winter.

On nights when there isn't a moon, the stars shine brighter. Check out the latest viewing info at stardate.org.

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