Rock-Scrambling Anyone?

People are doing crazy thing just to satisfied themself. And this mean safety is not the priority. This is the case of 1 photographer taking photographs of a 2nd photographer.

The following photos were taken by Hans van de Vorst from the Netherlands at the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Not sure when it was taken.

The descriptions are his own.

The identity of the 2nd photographer is unknown.

I was simply stunned seeing this guy standing on this solitary rock atThe Grand Canyon .

The canyon's depth is 900 meters (3000ft) here.

The rock on the right is next to the canyon and is safe.

Watching this guy - wearing flip-flop sandals - with camera and tripod,I asked myself 3 questions:

1. How did he get onto that rock ?
2. Why not take that sunset picture from the rock to the right, which isperfectly safe?
3. How will he get back?

After the sun set behind the canyon's horizon, he packed his things (havingonly on free hand) and prepared himself for the jump.

This took about 2 minutes, and at that point, he had the full attentionof the crowd of tourists.

 

He's now at the point of no return - he jumped in his flip-flops.

 

Now you can see that the safe rock is higher so he had to land lower -which was quite steep - and tried to use his one free hand to grab therock.

 

Look carefully at the photographer.

He has a camera, a tripod and a plastic bag, either on his shoulder orin his left hand.

Only his right hand is available to grab the rock and the weight of hisstuff is a problem.

He landed low - his right hand and right foot are slipping.

At this very moment, I took this shot.

He then pushed his body against the rock, waited for a few seconds, threwhis stuff up on the flat rock, climbed up and walked away, presumably toa bathroom to change his shorts.

I know I had to change mine - and I was only watching !

 

Hans van de Vorst