Chapter 2: The Approach

A Chapter by Doogie

After the family gets dropped off by the train they approach camp.

"Hey can we take a break for awhile?" Mom ask. My brother and I look back to notice she had started to fall behind. Luckily not to far. She looked a little ill. "I feel nauseas." She follows with as she goes behind a tree to vomit. Dad rushes over to check on her.

"Hunny drink some more water." He tells her and puts his hand on her back. She stands there hunched over trying to get it all out. She gasp for air. We've been gaining altitude fairly quickly. It looks like it starts to get easier ahead. None of us are acclimatized so it has been slow going. We've been drinking a lot of water. It's one of the most important things for acclimatizing. A stream runs along the trail all the way up to where we plan on camping. So luckily we will have an abundant supply. After a few minutes she stands back up and wipes her mouth. She drinks a few sips out of her water bladder.

"Let me carry your pack." Dad tells her, but she brushed him off. He stands there confused. Mom walks away a few feet and sits on a large rock.

"I can carry it. I don't need your help. I just need to rest." She snaps back. She was clearly starting to get frustrated. She folds her and and sips more water out of the bladder mouth piece.

Frustration shows on dad's face as well. "What's going on?" He ask and turns to us "you guys can go on ahead. Just be careful!"

We don't hesitate and keep going ahead. They start talking as we leave them, but that soon turns into bickering and then arguing. As we go around a bend in the trail cross some logs to get over some running water. I was surprised to see so much runoff water from the mountains still. Ahead of us is a big rock outcrop. As we start to head over to it I get a weird feeling. I turn to Zach "hey Zach, do you feel that?"

He looks up into the trees as an owl turns its head at the same time and stares into his eyes. It was only a few branches above. "Like we're being watched?" He replied. "It's giving me goosebumps. I've had a weird vibe the past mile or so. Everything felt so much more alive when we got off the train. I just keep feeling weirder and weirder the more we go along this trail."

"I've kind of thought the same thing. The air seems stagnant here. Maybe that's why mom and dad are fighting. Let's keep our heads up. Times have been hard recently. Good news is I think we're almost there. This place has been pretty awesome otherwise. His is your able feeling?" I replied.

"It's definitely starting to feel better." Zach responds. "I'm just getting tired." We keep moving on slowly. The trees become scarce as pass an old abandoned mining building and what looks like a stable. It was in great shape still. Mining used to be huge out here in this area. Now that was a job for a real man. I couldn't imagine mining at high altitude. The weather alone would make it harder. There are small mining ghost towns all over the state. I elbow Zach in the arm. "I think we are finally here." I told him while trying to hold in my excitement as we both stare in amazement. In front of us is a vast meadow of little yellow flowers. The trail continues along the steam still as it approaches a small lake. Behind that lies jagged mountains just waiting to be climbed by us. It was breath taking, but eerily silent. No sounds of birds or insects to go with such a beautiful sight. Only the sound of the steam as water flows down from the lake. I look around trying to catch any potential wild life or any birds flying. I only catch something out of the corner of my eye as something went behind a mountain. Maybe it was an eagle or some other big bird. The sound of approaching footsteps interrupts the silence and our thoughts.

"I see we finally caught up to you guys." Came from behind us in a manly voice. We both look back to see mom and dad finally catch up. They were holding hands to. It was nice to see that they both looked a lot happier.

"Wow, it's so beautiful here!" Mom says she gives dad a kiss. They take a moment to take in the view together. Maybe everything will be OK. At least i could only hope.

We continue up the trail through the meadow as a family. It brought more life to the trip. Everything seemed happier now. We approach the lake and start to set up camp. The lake was beautiful. The dude closer to the mountains had large boulders to play on. A trying waterfall flower or of two boulders at the edge of the lake. The jagged mountains surrounding the lake and us were beautiful. Not to far from the lake on the other side of the trail was a large gathering of trees. There was a tent on the other side of the lake as well. It must of been from the other people who got off of the train before us. They moved pretty fast. We couldn't see anybody so they might be out hiking or climbing at the moment. Hopefully they are nice people I thought or maybe some hot girls. I am a young single guy. I can dream right? Dad brought some wood from tree line when him and mom caught back up with us and started a fire. Tonight we will just relax and acclimatize. Tomorrow dad and I will go on an acclimatization hike or climb and then the next day we will gain some serious elevation. This is the highest I've ever been. I normally climb small mountains near the city. I definitely don't want to get acute mountain sickness. That could ruin any trip.

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