Spooky season is upon us so let's celebrate all of the creepy-crawlies and things that go bump in the night with an evening gathering in Irvine Regional Park. This event will be part hiking and part "ghost stories".
The hike will start while it's still a bit light. This will give us the opportunity to see the diurnal animals settle down for the evening, and the nocturnal animals begin to stir- paying attention to any silhouettes in the treetops and flight paths against the sky. As the light turns to darkness, we will focus on listening for animals from the calls of owls to the buzzing of insects.
We'll learn about southern california's resident nocturnal birds and mammals and amphibians. We'll learn why the eyes of many animals glow in the dark. We'll learn a bit of astronomy. We'll learn who many of the sounds we here at night belong to. And much more.
And then we'll sit around a faux campfire and share tales of spookiness we've encountered while out hiking.
And if you like, please come in costume as long as it doesn't interfere with easy hiking.
If you've never hiked at night, but have wanted to try, this will be a great first step. Irvine Regional Park is safe, and you can't get lost, and we'll never be much more than a mile as the crow flies from our vehicles.
I've capped attendence for this event, so if full, please join the waitlist. If enough people are waiting to join, I'll try to create a second event.
Location: Irvine Regional Park.
Starting point: Grassy area adjacent to Parking Lot P located in the far east end of the park. Look for the Socal Sciences Hikes banner, and the guy with long hair, beard, and cowboy hat.
Distance: Approximately four miles.
Elevation gain: Minimal
Terrain: Dirt trail, rocky trails, pavement, concrete
Difficulty: Beginner
Recommended gear:
- Footwear suitable for dirt paths, creek beds, and pavement
- Clothing suitable for the weather
- Water
- Snacks (if desired)
- Headlamp or flashlight with red light setting
- Binoculars, monocular, or spotting scope
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