The Procedure by Elea Plotkin

Author:Elea Plotkin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2022-11-16T12:31:39+00:00

CHAPTER 17

VALDEZ

Skillfully, Heather steered the van up Thompson Pass, checking her mirrors every so often to glance behind her at the two shiny black and red Polaris Voyageur snowmachines sitting side by side like praying mantis, trailered behind them. Thick nylon straps restrained the machines in place, the vehicle climbing higher and higher in elevation every minute. Three degrees Fahrenheit outside, early morning sun was breaking through the scattered clouds, sending beams of light reflecting off the frosted windows. Trent, Whitney, Duncan and Alyn sat quiet gazing out at the massive, snow-covered peaks sweeping down to the gray, arctic sea in giant, serpentine waves. Scenic grandeur at every turn, they traveled behind Scott and the rest of the team towards mile marker 27, where they would rendezvous with the other guides at the base of Sapphire Peak.

Heather fixed her eyes on the road, the trailer jostling noisily over crusty lumps of icy snow as it swayed loosely back and forth. She explained over her shoulder, “We’ll be going to a glacier at an area called Tones Temple. It’s six miles north of Sapphire Peak, we’ll take the snowmachines up there with Scott while your other teammates cat-ski with Jonah and Carli.” She went on, clarifying, “We’ll have to abseil down a couloir to get to there- you’ll need your harness and crampons. There’s fixed rope, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Scott will meet us at the base of the glacier with a snowmachine so we can relay up and down the route several times. Then we can practice self-rescue inside a crevasse later this afternoon if you like,” she added, helpfully.

Trent leaned over to Whitney, “I asked Heather and Scott to take us somewhere we could practice fixed- rope ski touring. La Grave is mostly off-piste skiing. You’ll be confronted with via-ferrata type climbing just to reach the runs. And if you’re not prepared for it, you’re basically out of contention,” he added, explaining, “The Europeans are accustomed to this style of skiing in the Alps, but the Americans aren’t. We don’t have those kinds of technical routes at our ski areas. Consequently, we’re at a major disadvantage, which is a serious problem. Their judges will assume you can handle their routes, which is why we need to practice,” he finished, frowning.

Whitney swallowed. This was why they were doing one-on-one, Trent needed to coach one person at a time, it was too dangerous to take multiple people all at once. She assumed Mason, Ian and Karis would alternate climbing inside the crevasse with the guides over the next several days.

Heather pulled the van off the highway to a parking area at Mile Marker 27, right behind Scott. The trailer bumped loosely over icy potholes and grooves, she expertly swung around and came to a stop. A few other skiers were already there, unloading equipment. The snowcat was parked in a snowfield, twenty yards away from the pull-off. A buzz of anticipation filled the air as they scurried around the parking area, getting ready.

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