Adventure Gone Wrong
by Elizabeth Averay
Trekking up the mountain, it’s a glorious sunny day. Mountaineering is something I have wanted to do since I was a little kid. Now I am at the base of a great mountain, its peak so high up it can’t be seen. Halfway up I can make out a scattering of snow.
It’s a good job I packed some warm clothes!
My three best friends are with me. With a final hug to our families we set off.
The first few days, the trek is easy going with beautiful scenery to look at and the most fascinating birds flying and darting around.
The landscape changes from lush green trees and shrubs to bare rock with a lonely plant scattered here and there. On day ten we reach the first clump of snow. The climb has become steep and slow-going. We should have reached this part of the mountain three days ago but Toni fell and twisted her ankle, making it impossible to carry on for a few days.
But now we have reached the snow!
Changing into the warmer clothes then having lunch we push on till it hits twilight then decide to make camp for the night. I build the fire, Terry fetches the wood for during the night, Toni cooks, and Lee clears up afterwards. We curl up in our sleeping bags around the fire and try to sleep.
The half moon shines down on us bright and ominous. An owl swoops past, hooting all the way. Its echoes go on forever, then suddenly the moon goes dark and – unbelievably – it starts to lightly snow. I wake the others up and dress but the snow is coming harder and it has put the fire out. It is now pitch black, we can’t see anything.
I rummage through my pack and find a torch. I turn it on to find Lee and Terry gone, their packs sitting on the ground but no sign of them. Toni and I call out for them, our echoing voices the only sound to be heard.
Pulling out a rope I tie it around my waist and hand the other end to Toni so she can do the same. With no idea which way to go we make a decision to head left and move slowly, prodding the ground to make sure there is ground to step on to.
Finally the sun comes up and we find that we have been heading downhill. Then Toni screams, pointing above us. There, hanging from a jutting rock, is what is left of Lee and a massive snow lion standing over him.
That’s it! We run down the mountain as fast as we can go, not stopping for food or water or sleep.
We fall in a tangle and roll a long way…
I wake up in hospital and find Terry sitting there. He looks up at me and says that he never wants to go trekking again – even though he was saved by having the S.O.S. beacon in his pocket.
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