Finishing work early, I hurried home, grabbed a sandwich, chips, and my tripod, then hit the road for the Bradshaws. My first stop was FR 52B along the Senator Highway, where I parked and started hiking up Mount Tritle. I puffed up the hill past the Davis Dunkirk mine and some nervous deer, and arrived on the summit in time to enjoy the sunset. I took some photos, signed the register, then headed back down in the growing dark.

Once back at my truck, it was time for part two of a fun filled evening: a mountain-top picnic, fire photos, and some back road travel. I squeezed past some other Gladiator Fire spectators who were parked in the middle of the Senator Highway, then turned onto Poland Road to look for my own vantage point. I settled on the south slope of Mount Davis, where I set up my camera, opened the shutter, then sat down to enjoy dinner with a spectacular, albeit sad light show in the distance.

Afterward, I went west to Mount Union for a few more photos, then headed east down the rough route of Poland Road all the way back to highway 69. Made it home at midnight, having had a perfect and satisfying evening in the mountains.