"Photographer" on Squaw Peak summit trail after sunset...
Posted: Oct 05 2007 8:35 pm
This past Sunday (09/30/2007) I was making my way down the summit trail. Every time I hike this trail I stay to enjoy the sunset. This means that by the time I am making my way down brightness progressively dissipates. I simply let my natural night vision take over. If it's uncomfortably dark I break out my mini LED flashlight. I had just turned the corner and passed the second bench (the one after the 0.25 mile marker. I saw a flash and I thought it was the group I just passed taking pictures of each other. Then I saw another flash, but for sure it was coming in front of me. Just prior to reaching the next turn in the trail my eyes picked up a crouched photographer with his camera trained on my descending body.
I tend to make my way down this trail quickly. Whether I go faster than others or if I go slowly the trail can be dangerous with all the rocky points jutting out of the trail. One moment where I take my eye off of the trail can mean the difference of my foot landing dead on that point or getting just part of the point and spraining my ankle.
I noticed the red LED turn on in his camera signifying the flash was ready. I figured out what he was doing and told him not to think of letting his flash go off on me again. I could care less if a photographer wants to photograph me. However, the fact that his flash is ruining my night vision when it was getting rather dark out really upset me. I asked this guy where his trail etiquette was. I also asked him what he would be willing to do should I twist my ankle due to his negligence.
Sorry for the rant. Carry on with your regularly scheduled hike
Jimmy
I tend to make my way down this trail quickly. Whether I go faster than others or if I go slowly the trail can be dangerous with all the rocky points jutting out of the trail. One moment where I take my eye off of the trail can mean the difference of my foot landing dead on that point or getting just part of the point and spraining my ankle.
I noticed the red LED turn on in his camera signifying the flash was ready. I figured out what he was doing and told him not to think of letting his flash go off on me again. I could care less if a photographer wants to photograph me. However, the fact that his flash is ruining my night vision when it was getting rather dark out really upset me. I asked this guy where his trail etiquette was. I also asked him what he would be willing to do should I twist my ankle due to his negligence.
Sorry for the rant. Carry on with your regularly scheduled hike
Jimmy
