About 15 years ago, I was in Zion National Park hiking up the narrows in March. It was not crowded because it was freezing (water was fresh snowmelt, thigh+ deep in some places). It was incredible. We only met one other couple, two older folks, the guy with a very nice canon slung on his neck. We chatted, and he gave me a piece of advice I’ve never forgotten. I mentioned how he was brave for bringing his camera, that I had left my Nikon in the car. He said, “a camera left at home for safe keeping is no better than a broken camera.” It’s going to break someday anyway, might as well take the risk of that happening while you’re doing something exciting, and get some great pictures along the way. Put your camera to work and then carry it in a backpack rest of the day.