How many of you guys, have ever ran, night runs without the use of any lights? We used to do it once or twice a year, on mild trails, but I havent done a "No Lights" night run, for quite a while.
On New Years eve, we were looking to do something a little different, to have some fun at the hammers. So after myself, Bob Roggy, and Mike Shaffer, got seperated from the rest of the group, at the top of the ridge on Jack Hammer, we finished the trail, by running Sledge Hammer backwards without lights.
It was a blast. Bob drove into a 12 ft deep hole, and we had to winch him back out(without lights), but it was still a great time.
If you havent ever done it you really should try it. Just make sure to disconnect all your back up, and brake lights, so you dont ruin your night vision.

:eek:....Just hope the moon is bright that night!! I'd probably drive right off the side of a mountain :D

Yep, first time I ever went to the hammerz, we got there about midnight. Bob and I decided to go run Sledgehammer right then. When we got to the trail head (I was in the lead) Bob yelled at me to turn off my lights. I don't know about you, but I do what Bob tells me to do. :D

Originally posted by Lance
Yep, first time I ever went to the hammerz, we got there about midnight. Bob and I decided to go run Sledgehammer right then. When we got to the trail head (I was in the lead) Bob yelled at me to turn off my lights. I don't know about you, but I do what Bob tells me to do. :D


Yep, the chain of command hasnt changed any. Thats about how it went this time.

nuts:eek:

Yeah but Bob got even with that rock !!!!!!!! but I'll never tell.......

ran from gate keeper to little sluice last summer by moonlight. It was eerie. I had to duct tape over the dash board lights (Check Engine and Part Time) to preserve the "night eyes"

SeanP

Ya'll should be astronomers, I have great night vision. I generally drive the first 2-3 miles down the mountain with no lights on at all when I leave at night, so as to not upset the other observers. I can walk around the mountain by starlight along (NO moon light).

Never tried wheeling though...might be interesting...

I've done it on the Con once with Gary. Let me tell you it's very difficult to do with a dirty windshield. :D I only hit a few rocks. :)

only thing that would scare me at the hammerz with no lights is how do you find the rattlers! :eek:

Originally posted by Chet
only thing that would scare me at the hammerz with no lights is how do you find the rattlers! :eek:


Pick good lines, so that you dont have to leave the vehicle. Then hope they arent waiting on rocks above, to leap into your rig.:eek:

done it a few times, I pull the fuses for all lights (brake, dash etc.,) The safest way we do it, is to wheel in while the suns still up and keep the route in the GPS, and after its dark, wheel out using the GPS to keep from going off cliffs! Real important in Moab.

The sand dunes are fun at night with no lights, but the mountains? I don't know about that.

I was riding with Kevin "U GET IT" on a No Lights run up at Bassi in the snow last year. Maniac was behind us.
We got down to the bottom of the hill we were coming down, (pretty fast I might add) we stopped listened to a song :smokin: and still no Mike. We turned around and got a ways up the hill where we then saw his truck was on it's lid and he was holding a huge Garage sale. Guess he got a little off the trail rode up a bank, hit a downed tree and did a 1 1/2er back down over the trail and onto the other side. Everyone was fine but his truck took some good damage. No more high speed night runs for me. :D

It's really groovy with Night Vision Goggles, but the damn things do get heavy after a while.

Course you have to resist the tempatation of lighting up your buddies with the high beams when he's got the goggles on :D

Originally posted by BillaVista
It's really groovy with Night Vision Goggles, but the damn things do get heavy after a while.

Course you have to resist the tempatation of lighting up your buddies with the high beams when he's got the goggles on :D
where is the cheapest place to get those? and are all goggle type good? I just got a $300 scope, sale $99, pos I took it back! could see in the front yard with the ilumanator, but couldn't make out much, I can't belive anyone would keep it! total crap.....my bud has an old israil army 40mmm or so star vision scope, back 15 years ago and it was $2500 used, illeagle back then, it was the bomb, worked killer...

Originally posted by Lance
Yep, first time I ever went to the hammerz, we got there about midnight. Bob and I decided to go run Sledgehammer right then. When we got to the trail head (I was in the lead) Bob yelled at me to turn off my lights. I don't know about you, but I do what Bob tells me to do. :D

The night before they did the up Jack we went up sledge with no lights....... than across the ridge and down Jackhammer. I recall no point across that ridge and having no lights feeling good about what I was doing... truly nuts but Bob was the trail Boss and you really cannot tell him NO! What a great trip... You missed out Lance.........

Originally posted by SNORTclown


The night before they did the up Jack we went up sledge with no lights....... than across the ridge and down Jackhammer. I recall no point across that ridge and having no lights feeling good about what I was doing... truly nuts but Bob was the trail Boss and you really cannot tell him NO! What a great trip... You missed out Lance.........
No "trail Boss" in our groups, just the Blind leading the Blind:D

where is the cheapest place to get those?

In the back of the helicopter, usually wedged between the SONAR and the gyro stabilized binoculars :flipoff2:

Sorry. not much help I know...borrowed mine from work! Crazy thing is, you have to wear your helmet in order to mount them. Kinda freaks people out when a bunch of helmeted guys with NVGs on come out of nowhere with no lights!

and are all goggle type good?

No, not at all. In fact, as you found out...the only ones that are really any good are really expensive mil spec models.

Might be some info out there on the ol' www, surplus Russian stuff and such?