Mount Rainier

They had always wanted to climb Mt Rainier. Now Thomas must do so alone. Feedback accepted

A light wind blew in my face as I rested on a small rock jutting from the cliff. I watched an eagle fly overhead, cawing as it glided through the clear blue sky. Part of the rock crumbled as I adjusted my position. I looked down to see my sister a few feet below and called out to her.
“I can see the top, not far to go now.” She didn’t answer but continued to ascend. We’re pretty high. Too high for my liking.
“I hope Mount Rainier will be worth the climb?” Charlotte said, as she too stopped for a rest.
“We won’t know until we climb it.”
“I can’t wait to climb it. I’ve heard there’s some amazing wildlife up there.”
“I’m excited, too, but for now, we need to get to the top of this climb.” The crumbling cliff face had me nervous. I looked up and saw the ledge some thirty feet above. “We’re almost there.” One last push would see us safely at the top.
All of a sudden, Charlotte screamed. “Thomas, help!” I stared down to see her clinging to the cliff, pale-faced, eyes wide with fear. “The rock…. It’s…. “All I could do was watch as part of the rock wall came away in her hand. “Thomas,” she said with a gasp. Then she was gone, falling silently to the ground below, not even a scream.

That was a year ago. Now, I stood at the entrance to the forest, gazing at the mountain peak above the treetops. The taxi was long gone by now, and I knew I couldn’t just turn back. I’ve already come so far. I hoisted the backpack over my shoulders and shuddered as a harsh gale blew. I had woken two hours earlier, prepared for the hike. I was eager, yet part of me was scared. What if I failed? How would I forgive myself? A robin flew by, a flock close behind. I turned my gaze to the woods again and took a few steps closer, hoping for the best.
For my sister, I thought, and entered the darkness of the forest.
The red and orange leaves fell about me as the wind blew. A mink ran past, gazed at me with hungry eyes, and continued through the forest. I traipsed through the woodland, paying attention to my surroundings. How far does this go? The birds chirped and cawed as they flew from one tree to another. I stumbled upon a river, and as I trudged along it, I noticed a fox drinking. It looked up at my approach and fled deeper into the forest.
The wildlife is so beautiful. I watched a garter snake slither by, hissing as it pursued a lizard. The reptile lunged and sank its fangs into the lizard's back. I turned away from the sight and continued through the woods. The trees blocked out the sun, but I didn’t mind. I looked at my watch and groaned. I’ve already wasted two hours in this darn forest. I continued through the woods, ignoring the ache building up in my thighs. A beam of sunlight shone through the gap in the trees, blinding me. I strode out of the forest, glad to be out in the open.
I stared ahead and gaped in shock. I never knew the mountain was so big. I took a deep breath, then began to ascend, my hands shaking. I bypassed a mountain goat and continued to climb. I was quite fit for my age, but I struggled to get up Mount Rainier. My thighs ached, and the blood pumped in my veins. A bald eagle flew overhead, squawking as it dived for an unseen animal. I thought there’d be more people climbing. I continued, watching out for any mountain lions or coyotes.
The wind grew stronger the higher I ascended. I pulled the zipper as far as it would go, hoping to get some extra warmth. The clouds that whirled above the snow-capped mountain were an unwelcome sight. I tucked my hands deeper into my pockets and continued. This’ll be the biggest hike I’ve ever done. I stumbled, grunting as my elbow struck a rock. The first flake of snow touched down, followed by more. It came slow at first, then quicker. It may be calm now, but it’s going to get far worse.
I tried to quicken my process, but the snow only slowed me. I looked behind me and gasped. I’ve already gotten so high! A gale of wind rushed by, seeping through my clothes and into my skin. I buried my hands into my pockets, turned away from the biting wind, and continued ahead. A whirling mass of snow came down, concealing my winter clothes. My throat was dry, so I drank some water and continued. I should’ve brought warmer gear. The snow poured down, sticking to the ground.
I spied an older man weaving his way between a cluster of rocks as he fought against the harsh wind. He looked in my direction, and our eyes connected for a second. Then the person lowered his head and waddled over. The man had blue eyes and wore a grey jacket, with his pale hair cut short. His belly was round, and his hands were old and crooked. He had a short beard, and he wore rounded glasses.
“How are you doing?” He said, a warm smile upon his face.
“Fine, thanks. Feeling a bit chilly, but apart from that, I’m doing okay. How about you?”
“I’m feeling great. A long hike always cheers me up. Anyways, what brings you here?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Go on. I’m listening.” I hesitated, yet he looked very eager. I sighed and answered.
"A year back, my sister passed away while rock climbing. It broke me, but I wanted to be brave for her. It was her life’s dream to climb this mountain, so she could see the wildlife, but she had died before the chance came. I knew how much it meant to her, so I’ve decided to climb it for her, but I’m starting to think about giving up and going home.”
The man put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a shake. “You’re a good lad,” he said, ignoring my last words. “You must’ve had lots of love for your sister. Going so far as to climb this mountain. I hope you make it to the top. Anyway, I’m not going to waste any more of your time. Keep going and don’t give up.” He strode off, vanishing into the oncoming snow. His words motivated me, and adrenaline coursed through my veins. Why was he up here, though? I had wanted to ask him, but I’d held back.
I continued upwards and gasped. I’m going to make it. However, the mountain peak was miles away. I checked my watch and noticed I’d been out for hours. I was exhausted as well as starving, so I ate some food, but it did little to help fill me. I stumbled upon a cave and took shelter during the worst of the snowstorm. It’s like a blizzard out there. I knelt, my hair brushing against the ceiling. It’s too low in here, but it’s better than walking in the cold. The warmth of the cave was soothing, and my muscles began to relax.
I can’t sit in here forever. I need to finish the climb. I stood, brushing the snow off my clothes, then strode out of the cave and into the frigid air. The snow crunched beneath my feet as I strode upwards. I kicked at some pebbles and stared at the ashen sky. If I can climb the Grand Canyon, then I can hike up this. I gave myself the confidence and got the adrenaline pumping again. I continued up the mountain, the muscles in my legs bulging as I forced myself to resume.
A falcon soared down the mountain, crying in alarm as a bald eagle dived at it, its talons piercing the falcon’s chest. It plummeted to the ground, the eagle pursuing it. Nature is cruel as well, I thought as the eagle took the falcon back to its nest. The peak shone as the clouds parted, revealing the sun. I shielded my eyes and trudged through the snow. I kept at a steady pace, appreciating the beauty of the landscape.
I was gasping for breath, but I didn’t stop, nor did I slow down. I sped up, the thought of achieving such a great goal rushing through my mind. Every joint ached, and I burned with anticipation. I stumbled to the top of the mountain, taking in the view. I stood up and gaped at the crater. I withdrew my sister’s ashes and popped the lid open. I poured the contents out, allowing them to spread across the mountain. That should do it. Now, for the fun part. I withdrew my skiing gear, eager to use it for the first time.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, but I was prepared. I pushed with the poles and began to descend. I was slow at first, but began to gain more speed with each push of the rods. I avoided the rocks and made sure not to cause myself any severe harm. My lungs burned as I inhaled the cold air. The forest was coming fast, but I couldn’t stop myself, so I did the only thing I could and fell to the ground. I rolled along the grass, inches from the trees, but unhurt.
The sun set as I made my way through the forest.
Eyes stared at me from the darkness, and I had a sense of unease. I shouldn’t be scared. I walked through it earlier, and nothing happened. A fox screamed nearby, causing a shudder to run through my spine. Another two hours passed before I made it out. I called a taxi and sat by the side of the road, awaiting its arrival. When it appeared, I walked up to the door, and I noticed a familiar person. I looked to my left and spotted the guy from earlier. I strode up to him and shook his hand. “Thanks for giving me the encouragement to continue,” I said. “I wouldn’t have done it without you.”
“Don’t thank me. You should be thanking yourself. Now I must be going.” As he turned to leave, I spoke.
“What were you doing up the mountain?”
He turned to face me. “I’m bound to die at some point, and I wanted a bit of adventure in my life. Mount Rainier was quite the challenge, so I decided to try it out. He muttered something unintelligible, then smiled sadly. He withdrew a picture of a young man, a woman, and another guy, who I guessed was him. As I watched, a tear crept down his cheek.
“What’s wrong?” I said, but he didn’t answer and continued to look at the picture. “It’s okay, sir. You can tell me.”
He looked up and brushed the tears away before answering. "It's a long story."
“Hurry up and get in the car,” the driver said. “I haven’t got all day.”
I turned to him, then back at the man, but he was already walking down the road. He looked back, smiled and waved, then turned around and continued. I entered the taxi, pleased to get home. As I was driven back, I turned on a recording of Charlotte and repeated it over and over again. “I’ll miss you,” I whispered, a tear dropping onto my knee. When I returned, I put away my gear, then went up to my room to lie down. I closed my eyes, thought of the old man, Charlotte, and Mount Rainier, before letting sleep take me.