departingyyz

Always looks your best... even in the mountains and the fields.

Always looks your best... even in the mountains and the fields.

Every trekker through the wonderful Simien Mountain's national park must be accompanied by at least a guard or 'scout' who tends to stay behind and watch over t...
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Every trekker through the wonderful Simien Mountain's national park must be accompanied by at least a guard or 'scout' who tends to stay behind and watch over things. Carrying what looked like an unloaded Ak-47 for some reason and dressed in a suit jacket, our older-aged scout was much more effective at coughing and wheezing his way though the canyon laden landscape than being of any practical benefit to defend us if something were to go weary.

Truthfully I haven't heard of any robberies or other foul play around these parts and I would guess that mandatory scouts are being used as a local community builder and job creator for the relatively impoverished people of the highlands. Nevertheless his services weren't expensive and you're helping the local community while getting the wonderful opportunity to hike this beautiful land and take the occasional photo with him in it.
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