Josh Ulrich

Lighting the way. The hard crust of snow crunched beneath our feet, rhythmically breaking the silence. Darkness slowly began to fade. The warm glow of sunrise cut through the foreboding silhouettes. Snow covered giants awakened before our eyes. The mountains were full of life.

We set down our packs, shed our damp outer layers, and stowed our headlamps that had guided our way. The path forward was now lit by the rising sun. All lines led to the mountain, from the sharp fissures in the snow to the deep chasms of the crevasses, they all pointed towards the summit. The only thing left to do was to climb.

Pictured Mount Baker from the Coleman Glacier. We hit the trail in darkness at 2 a.m., pushing through the night to reach the summit in the early morning.

Off the beaten path. Snow crunched beneath my feet. The path led to the right, towards the familiar, well-travelled trail downhill, back to civilization, back to the comfort of my camp. I stood at a crossroads. In the moment of solitude, the voice of curiosity began to grow louder. “Just go take a look, there is plenty of life left in your legs,” encouraged the voice. “You don’t want to live a life of what could have been.”

I did not need much persuasion. Giving in, I set my eyes on the path less travelled. The rough ridgeline dove downwards covered in a maze of crumbling rock. The route forward was unknown, but the destination was set. Sacagawea Peak sat atop its steep, sharp pedestal defiantly called my name.

Pictured A view of Mount Borah from a much less captured angle, atop Sacagawea Peak in the Lost River Range.

Through the darkness.”Bzzzzz…..Bzzzzzz,” my phone vibrated against the cold mattress. Turning over, I looked at the time in disbelief. “3 a.m. already, ugh,” I mumbled to myself. I hesitantly reached over into the shadows, nudging the silhouette next to me. “It’s time to roll out,” I assured her. I quickly fumbled through the motions, still half asleep, grabbing my belongings scattered around before hopping into the truck bed below. My gaze was met by two sets of sharp, glowing eyes, cutting through the darkness, burning brightly in the reflection of my headlamp. They were ready, they were always ready. With a dull thud, the tailgate swung down. The chilling eyes brushed against my sides, leaping forward into the soft glow of moonlight. Before they hit the ground, they had transformed into two loyal companions. With a quick swig of coffee, I threw my heavy pack over my shoulders, and looked towards the moon, waiting for it to guide our way through the darkness.

Last Light. Stillness quietly covered the valley with its calming solitude. The warm mountain breeze dissipated, pushing westward towards the dimming sun. Silence was left in its absence, quietly sinking into the valley, lulling everything into a gentle sleep. Exhaustion had caught up to me, miles of mountainous terrain in the hot summer sun had taken its toll. “Just a quick break” I assured myself, as I sat down along the water’s edge. My eyelids gradually grew heavier while I watched the ripples of water fall asleep, disappearing into the lake below. Dreams slowly merged into reality. My imagination wandered into the smooth, glassy reflection of red alpenglow towards new adventures. The last light had lured me in.

Waiting for Warmth. Dark, monstrous clouds charged across the night sky, devouring the soft glow of the moon and the twinkling stars. We were thrown into darkness, no longer able to differentiate trail from the rocky terrain that surrounded us. The dim light from my headlamp peered over the edge into a deep black void. Our decision was made for us; it was time to retreat. Shadowy figures danced down below, waving us onward into their warm embrace. The trees whipped back and forth, but remained strong, protecting our temporary home, a jagged alcove cut into the mountain side. Tonight, was going to be a cold one. The warmth of our sleeping bags gradually overpowered our shaking bodies. “Just a couple more hours,” I whispered to Rogue, as we fell asleep waiting for the sunrise to wake us with its warmth.