Hiking Rattlesnake Mountain at night??

[upthesaukee]

I would not be so leery of animals attacking...I would have concerns about hiking a mountain whose trail could be anywhere from just plain snow covered to slippery to treacherous, possibly all in the same night. I would certainly want to be experienced with the trail (darkness has a way of changing the way a trail can look), I would certainly want to have artificial lighting available, you would need a form of communication to the outside world in case of emergency, have a topo map, and first and foremost if you do decide to go is to make sure that someone knows where you are going, what route you intend to follow, what time you are leaving, and what time you expect to be back. And make sure you call them ASAP to let them know you made it off the mountain OK. Oh, did I say make sure you have all the good stuff for a hike like a first aid kit, dry socks, extra layers for warmth, water, food, ... (don't want to sound like a nag here, but safety is not only first, it is absolutely paramount.) If you do go, be safe, be careful, and have fun.