Derek

And how did they start out of nowhere?' Neither of us had an answer. Eventually we returned silently to our bivvy site. I reached into my pack and pulled out a trail camera, compact, motion-triggered, infrared-capable.' We hadn't intended to use it for security, only wildlife photography, but now it seemed prudent. Let's set this up, I suggested.

And how did they start out of nowhere?' Neither of us had an answer. Eventually we returned silently to our bivvy site. I reached into my pack and pulled out a trail camera, compact, motion-triggered, infrared-capable.' We hadn't intended to use it for security, only wildlife photography, but now it seemed prudent. Let's set this up, I suggested.

If something comes back tonight, maybe we'll catch it. Tomás agreed silently, though his usual good humor had noticeably diminished. Together, we secured the camera to a sturdy tripod, pointing it toward our camp, ensuring it had a clear field of view. The rest of the day passed slowly. We barely spoke, busying ourselves with menial tasks, melting snow, reorganizing gear.

If something comes back tonight, maybe we'll catch it. Tomás agreed silently, though his usual good humor had noticeably diminished. Together, we secured the camera to a sturdy tripod, pointing it toward our camp, ensuring it had a clear field of view. The rest of the day passed slowly. We barely spoke, busying ourselves with menial tasks, melting snow, reorganizing gear.

Anxiety settled in my chest. a physical pressure that wouldn't release. Worse, I'd started experiencing brief lapses in memory, forgetting where I'd set down my gloves, checking my GPS beacon only to find it inexplicably turned off. Fatigue, stress, altitude, I rationalized, but deep down I knew it was something more unsettling. Night descended again, darker and quieter than the last.

Anxiety settled in my chest. a physical pressure that wouldn't release. Worse, I'd started experiencing brief lapses in memory, forgetting where I'd set down my gloves, checking my GPS beacon only to find it inexplicably turned off. Fatigue, stress, altitude, I rationalized, but deep down I knew it was something more unsettling. Night descended again, darker and quieter than the last.

the sky was heavy with clouds obscuring stars and moonlight alike inside my bivvy i stared into the darkness ears alert eyes straining for movement it felt like hours before thomas finally spoke again his voice barely audible "'Jason,' he whispered hoarsely. "'Let's check the camera.' We climbed out stiffly, boots crunching softly in the snow, breath misting rapidly in the freezing air.

the sky was heavy with clouds obscuring stars and moonlight alike inside my bivvy i stared into the darkness ears alert eyes straining for movement it felt like hours before thomas finally spoke again his voice barely audible "'Jason,' he whispered hoarsely. "'Let's check the camera.' We climbed out stiffly, boots crunching softly in the snow, breath misting rapidly in the freezing air.

My pulse quickened as I opened the camera's memory card compartment and plugged it into my phone to review the images. The first set of images was normal enough, us setting up camp, boiling water, chatting quietly." My finger swiped rapidly forward, dread building in my gut. I froze abruptly. The timestamp read 3.12 a.m.

My pulse quickened as I opened the camera's memory card compartment and plugged it into my phone to review the images. The first set of images was normal enough, us setting up camp, boiling water, chatting quietly." My finger swiped rapidly forward, dread building in my gut. I froze abruptly. The timestamp read 3.12 a.m.

The image showed Thomas and me clearly asleep inside our bivy sacks, taken from perhaps five feet above, angled downward. I glanced sharply at the tripod. It hadn't moved. The angle of the shot was wrong, impossible.

The image showed Thomas and me clearly asleep inside our bivy sacks, taken from perhaps five feet above, angled downward. I glanced sharply at the tripod. It hadn't moved. The angle of the shot was wrong, impossible.

it couldn't have taken that picture it hadn't been triggered hadn't shifted thomas my voice shook slightly look at this he peered closer expression tightening with concern how he murmured not finishing the question I clicked further into the memory card. A second folder appeared, one we hadn't created. My hand trembled as I tapped it open. Images loaded slowly, thumbnails flickering ominously.

it couldn't have taken that picture it hadn't been triggered hadn't shifted thomas my voice shook slightly look at this he peered closer expression tightening with concern how he murmured not finishing the question I clicked further into the memory card. A second folder appeared, one we hadn't created. My hand trembled as I tapped it open. Images loaded slowly, thumbnails flickering ominously.

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