The Shot That Almost Killed Me

This shot is from Castle Crag State park just outside of Redding, CA. My wife and I did the famous Castle Dome hike here a few months before this. When we entered the park to do the Dome, the park ranger gave us a brochure that had a photo similar to this one for Root Creek Trail. We were there in the Summer, so the creek was dry, but as soon as I saw that, I became obsessed with coming here. I couldn't wait for the rain to come fill this creek again so I could get a shot like what I saw in the brochure.

As soon as the storms came, my wife and I came back to do Root Creek Trail. It was a short, mellow hike, and it was just as breathtaking as I thought it would be when I saw it in the brochure. When I got my camera out to snap some photos though, I realized that the canyon turned into the view a little bit and blocked my shot. If I could get farther upstream and closer, I could get a better, unobstructed view. Only problem was, the canyon was super steep with very little footing to stand on, and I was a few hundred feet above the water. So if I fell, I would certainly die or get seriously hurt. I didn't even want to do it at first, but then my wife said, "I'm lighter, I'll go first and test it, if it can hold me, maybe it can hold you." She makes it through the loose rock and mud with little trouble, so I decide to go ahead and try it. To my amazement, with my heart pounding and nerves on high alert, everything held and I made it without falling into the canyon. I take a couple photos, get this shot that you see above that turned out great, and the whole time I'm doing this I'm dreading going back. Getting there gave me so much anxiety that I hated the fact that I had to do it one more time. I start making the trek back with my heart pounding, moving as fast as I can along a little tiny ledge, where one small mishap can send me tumbling down to my death. I get to one spot where the ground is soft, and as I take my next step and have all my weight on one leg on this soft piece of dirt, I feel it start to crumble underneath me. My heart goes into panic mode and I begin to hurry and try get across as fast as I can, and as soon as I get my weight over to my other foot, the part where I was just standing goes crumbling down into the canyon, leaving a gaping hole in this little ledge we just used to get over there. A second later and I would have certainly gone tumbling down with that piece of earth to my death. I have never felt more relieved when I got back to safety. I am thankful that I was able to get the shot I wanted, but I would never do that again. If I ever go back there, I think I'll go ahead and stay in the safe spot with a little obstructed view.

When I look at this photo, it inspires me to take risks. Thinking of what it took for me to get it, it's a friendly reminder that some times in life, the good things we want are going to require some risk.