Derek

They revealed photos taken before we arrived at Sky Pond. Empty landscapes at first, then increasingly images of our campsite. Not our current setup, but the exact spot we chose, photographed repeatedly from multiple angles. Empty snow, empty rock, as if something had anticipated precisely where we'd bivouac. Neither of us spoke. Tomas looked shaken, eyes wide with apprehension.

They revealed photos taken before we arrived at Sky Pond. Empty landscapes at first, then increasingly images of our campsite. Not our current setup, but the exact spot we chose, photographed repeatedly from multiple angles. Empty snow, empty rock, as if something had anticipated precisely where we'd bivouac. Neither of us spoke. Tomas looked shaken, eyes wide with apprehension.

"'We have to get out of here,' I whispered urgently. He nodded slowly, deeply. "'First thing tomorrow. We're leaving.' We returned silently to our bivvies, though sleep was impossible."

"'We have to get out of here,' I whispered urgently. He nodded slowly, deeply. "'First thing tomorrow. We're leaving.' We returned silently to our bivvies, though sleep was impossible."

i lay awake eyes straining at the featureless dark gripping my small knife in numb fingers the clicks returned some time later more distinct now echoing softly from above sharp purposeful they continued long after dawn approached fading only when the gray light of another cold morning spilled over the basin illuminating clearly the circle in the snow a stark reminder that something unseen was watching us closely

i lay awake eyes straining at the featureless dark gripping my small knife in numb fingers the clicks returned some time later more distinct now echoing softly from above sharp purposeful they continued long after dawn approached fading only when the gray light of another cold morning spilled over the basin illuminating clearly the circle in the snow a stark reminder that something unseen was watching us closely

we packed our gear hastily at dawn tension tightening every movement the air was colder clouds heavy and gray promising snow thomas and i exchanged few words each of us silently preparing for a quick descent toward the lock and ultimately back to the relative safety of glacier gorge trailhead

we packed our gear hastily at dawn tension tightening every movement the air was colder clouds heavy and gray promising snow thomas and i exchanged few words each of us silently preparing for a quick descent toward the lock and ultimately back to the relative safety of glacier gorge trailhead

I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a subtle pressure at the edge of perception, something just beyond sight but undeniably real. The image from the trail cam haunted me, our sleeping forms captured by some unseen vantage point, the impossibility of it all. The trail down was slick and treacherous, patches of ice hiding beneath fresh powder.

I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a subtle pressure at the edge of perception, something just beyond sight but undeniably real. The image from the trail cam haunted me, our sleeping forms captured by some unseen vantage point, the impossibility of it all. The trail down was slick and treacherous, patches of ice hiding beneath fresh powder.

Visibility worsened as fog drifted down from the peaks, thickening steadily until the landscape blurred into vague shapes and shadows. We paused briefly, checking our GPS beacons and maps, ensuring we hadn't strayed from the route. As we descended past Timberline Falls, Tomas's boot slipped abruptly.

Visibility worsened as fog drifted down from the peaks, thickening steadily until the landscape blurred into vague shapes and shadows. We paused briefly, checking our GPS beacons and maps, ensuring we hadn't strayed from the route. As we descended past Timberline Falls, Tomas's boot slipped abruptly.

He dropped heavily onto the ice-covered rock, a sharp cry breaking from his lips as his leg twisted awkwardly beneath him. Thomas, I called urgently, rushing to him. His face was pale, pain etched deeply into his features. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. He clenched his jaw, eyes watering. My ankle, he groaned, breathing hard. It's bad, Jason.

He dropped heavily onto the ice-covered rock, a sharp cry breaking from his lips as his leg twisted awkwardly beneath him. Thomas, I called urgently, rushing to him. His face was pale, pain etched deeply into his features. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. He clenched his jaw, eyes watering. My ankle, he groaned, breathing hard. It's bad, Jason.

I quickly activated the Garmin SOS beacon clipped to my pack, the blinking red light reassuring despite the chill of dread. Help will be here soon, I promised, forcing calm into my voice. But we both knew rescue at this elevation could take hours. Gently, I wrapped him in an emergency blanket, propping him against a rock ledge to shield him from the biting wind. You stay here, I said firmly.

I quickly activated the Garmin SOS beacon clipped to my pack, the blinking red light reassuring despite the chill of dread. Help will be here soon, I promised, forcing calm into my voice. But we both knew rescue at this elevation could take hours. Gently, I wrapped him in an emergency blanket, propping him against a rock ledge to shield him from the biting wind. You stay here, I said firmly.

I'll find a better signal and see if I can spot any landmarks for Saar. Tomas nodded weakly, eyes half closed in pain. Don't go far, he warned softly, more pleading than authoritative. I scrambled uphill slightly, looking for clearer terrain. Fog hung thickly, making navigation difficult. My feet crunched softly through frozen moss and snow, until suddenly, the ground beneath my boots changed.

I'll find a better signal and see if I can spot any landmarks for Saar. Tomas nodded weakly, eyes half closed in pain. Don't go far, he warned softly, more pleading than authoritative. I scrambled uphill slightly, looking for clearer terrain. Fog hung thickly, making navigation difficult. My feet crunched softly through frozen moss and snow, until suddenly, the ground beneath my boots changed.

I stopped, my breath catching sharply. Another circle, just like the first, but this one was different. It wasn't just bare earth. The ground within the circle was scorched black, the moss and pine needles charred and brittle, radiating outward with perfect, unsettling symmetry. The snow surrounding it was melted cleanly away, revealing a ring of exposed, burned soil.

I stopped, my breath catching sharply. Another circle, just like the first, but this one was different. It wasn't just bare earth. The ground within the circle was scorched black, the moss and pine needles charred and brittle, radiating outward with perfect, unsettling symmetry. The snow surrounding it was melted cleanly away, revealing a ring of exposed, burned soil.