Pure, dazzling whiteMiles of iceblend withmiles of snow andsnow-covered rockwhich can be deadly if youdon’t know where to look

A solitary climberwindshis way up this mountainstopping only nowand thento adjust his tintedsnow gogglesThis high uphe almost feels illoverwhelmed by the sheeraltitude of this mountainwhich he has come to lovein a wayas his ownthe altitude of his mountaincan do this to people — make them feelso ill that they never make it upto the summitbut he willhe vows this tohimself

Each step is a mountainin itselfthe snow is quicksandit wants to drag himdown with every stephe takesbut he fights backand wins thisbattlethinking onlyof the summitthe very topoh the view from the summitnothing else is on his mindnot even the ever-diminishingspeedof his steps

He sees the snow isending—could it bethe summit is onlyfifty yards away?He quickens his paceHis struggles are pushed likemere toysto the back of his mindwith one last stepa step taken more bydetermination and resolvethan by the energy of hisbody and his feet

He reaches the summitand looks down