Now or Later

The Moon shot







I am headed to the desert on Monday next week. The group I go with times it so that we are there during the full moon. I'll get in some night hikes, and have my Fenix (pronounced like Phoenix the city) to light the way.

At night, Its eerie, like being on a different planet: beautifully strange.

During the day, I should get in some great hikes and runs in the desert mountains. Its a big place, with miles and miles of trails.



Those are tents down there..








Since i don't have a 'smart' phone, I don't have an all-in-one device to both take pictures and assist with navigation

To save weight, its either a GPS, or a camera. I don't want to carry both (I will carry my phone too). So I have to decide whether its more important to know where I am now, or to later remember where I've been.


Sun and clouds makes
for drama in photos...








The Buddhist in me first says to take the GPS: its always more important to know NOW, be NOW, live in the moment.

Not worry about recording some photo that I won't care much about later anyway.





High peaks, low clouds..






But then the Buddhist in me says: you already know where you are, and relying on some external source for finding that is always a mistake. No. rely on a compass, a map, and the sun. Mark confusion points with cairns (A small pile of stones, arranged so it looks intentional). Don't stick you head in the sand.






Canyon Wash.........






The photo Op says STOP. Look around outside your immediate sphere. The camera can be the reminder to live in the present moment.

The camera wins. I will get some great shots, of some beautiful country. The shots above were from my last trip.



See you in 10 days or so.