Leaving the safety of a trail can lead to gruesome encounters, as shown here. During a lunch break
above the canyon of Salt Wash, about a mile from the only trail in the area (the Delicate Arch
Trail), I was relaxing and minding my own business. Suddenly this apparition presented itself;
the shock of seeing it made me choke on my sandwich. I should have heeded the advice of Professor
Listorama, noted expert in hiking psychology, who has stated "Leaving established trails exposes the
hiker to unimaginable horrors." I hope that my painful experience somehow benefits other explorers.

Joe Tripod, my photographic assistant, scared the weirdo away (thanks, Joe!).
Then we soldiered on, having no more experiences of this type.

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