A Washington man recently visited Mount Rainier National Park, where he came across a photographer and her client while walking the Skyline Trail. Taking photos wasn’t the issue. What caught his attention was where they had chosen to stand, which was inside a protected meadow that visitors are prohibited from entering.
TikTok user PJaws RN posted her video on social media wherein she explains the issue in the caption: The photographer and her client were illegally stepping in a meadow, violating “federal resource-protection laws” and in doing so can incur “criminal penalties.”
PJaw’s partner is heard scolding the group as he ushers them back onto the trail. “And not get told by two people and then immediately get back onto it.” The group pack up their stuff and return to the trail.
One of the members of the group tries to defend themselves, but PJaw’s partner wasn’t having it. “I don’t care. There are signs for that reason.”
Like all national parks, there are very strict rules and regulations on what you can and can’t do. Not even pets or drones are allowed on trails (excluding service animals).
Viewers blast the ‘meadow stompers’ on TikTok: ‘That photographer should be banned from all national parks’
Commenters on TikTok were rightfully angry with both the photographer and the client, siding with Pjaws RN’s partner and giving him props. Viewers flooded the comment section, dragging the group for being inconsiderate of nature.
“We called them Meadow Stompers & ruthlessly shamed them in the 90s,” wrote TikTok user Theviewatscenicbay, who was familiar with the area.
Another viewer, TikTok user Jenna, brought up a finer point Pjaws RN didn’t share in her video. “Those plants are so fragile! It takes ONE HUNDRED YEARS for the meadow to recover.” Hence, the restoration initiative by the national park.
Some commenters revealed how little they actually cared about nature. “Who tf cares? it is harmless. you think meadows die from being walked on? get a life,” a TikTok user wrote.
TikTok user Andy Conerly made the photographer look even more foolish when he shared that he had wedding photos done on the same trail. “Never had to leave the trail for amazing photos,” Andy wrote. So what’s the photographer’s excuse?
In the case of Mount Rainier National Park, there are areas designated off-limits, with signs warning trespassers; in fact, the national park has an initiative to preserve its meadows. Those are the same meadows the photographer and her client were seen trespassing.
