Jason was incensed, and confused, and hurt. He watched as his dad got into a private car taking him to the airport to go on an important business meeting and wondered where he went wrong. Surely it could not be that he was, what too successful? There was something he did not know and that brought him to a place where he did not understand what was going on. He checked his phone, only 11:43 still not time to pick Sarah up and head for the mountains. What was going to be a celebration vacation is now turning into a desire and the need to challenge himself. At that moment he felt his phone ring and he looked down to see the smiling face of Sarah. “Sarah! I desperately needed to hear your voice, how are you?” Sarah on the other line sounding frantic replied. “Jason, I am so sorry the hospital called and there was a 7 car pile up and it’s all hands on deck, your mom is picking me up and we’re both going to help right now. I can’t go to Banff with you, but I promise that I will make it up to you when this rush is over.” Jason was for the second time flustered, he replied to Sarah in terse words. “I didn’t get the position. I am going to go to Banff myself, I need to get away.”
Sarah was doubly sorry for cancelling now, she never thought for a second that Jason was serious when he said his dad was looking for reasons to not promote him. She wondered what happened, but just then Jason’s mom Teressa pulled up to the hospital and the workers there were frantic. “Jason I am so sorry to hear that, please stay in town, I will be home sometime in the morning. If you do decide to go I know that you’ll be safe but please for my sake don’t do something stupid. I remember the last time you and Brandon went, you just about died.” Jason could hear his mom in the background. “Sarah we have to go, tell Jason I love him.” “Love you, Jason.”
Jason was torn, he felt he let his dad down, humiliated in front of the board, and his girlfriend wasn’t there to comfort him. Looking at his phone, he dialled Brandon’s number. Ring, ring, ring, “Hey this is Brandon, sorry I missed your call, please leave me a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.” Jason hung up without leaving a message. Looking around he realized he was standing outside with people passing him by for close to ten minutes now and wanted to be anywhere but here. Going back inside, he was greeted by the secretary Jen, “Hey Jason here’s the reports you wanted.” Jason looked at the woman, she was cute and she had expressed interest in Jason but he had no real affection towards her like that. “For the fourth time Jen, leave them on my desk I don’t need them to be handed to me directly.” Jason strode back to his office reports in hand.
Jason mused to himself ‘Well I have nothing better to do, and the campground is booked, I might as well go and blow off some steam climbing the mountain. I am sure the fresh air will do me good.’ So with that in mind, Jason went home to pick up his winter hiking gear and his dog, Max, A Siberian husky. Having gone home and got his equipment Jason started on the QE2 highway heading towards Banff and cranked the tunes. Listening to the music, Jason drowns out the world and thinks of the hike he’s going to do. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Jason has completed many hikes in his time, though not as many winter hikes, Jason always likes a challenge. Mt. Robson was the highest peak in the rocky mountains and while the plan with Sarah was to only make it halfway before the extreme climb. Jason was feeling ready and wanted to push himself hard.
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The six-hour drive from Sherwood park ate a lot of the day away from Jason and nights came on fast so he decided to waste no time starting the hike. He put on his jacket, and snow pants adorned his snowshoes and put on his headlight. His gloves were last to go on as he locks his truck and swings his backpack over his shoulder. “Come on Max, we have 9 Kms to go and it’s already starting to get dark.” Max looks over with a hint of mischief in his eyes, “Bark!”
Thus began the trek into the foot of the mountain, Jason looked out at the darkening sky and decided on a strong jaunt down the path. Humming a slight tune to him faintly whispering “The ants go marching…” though an easy hike to start, it quickly becomes entrenched in steep switchbacks and deep valleys. “Ah Max, I really should have thought this through better. Maybe I should have just stayed home and worked things through there. Eh, it’s too late now bud.” Jason talked to his dog more to break the monotony of the hike, too lost in thought to focus on the view and if one would notice a strange haze starting to cover the entire Forrest. The haze passing behind Jason without notice eventually comes to the campground at approximately 23:00 hours. ‘Finally, here, I need to get my tent set up and to bed soon. But first, let’s have a cold dinner, better to save my high-protein hot packs for tomorrow after climbing the steepest part. It’s going to be a hard day tomorrow.’
The night continued into the morning and Jason sequestered himself away from the other 4 campers on the grounds. Having fallen asleep with his longtime pal, Max. Jason was woken by the anxious whining of a puppy who desperately wanted to get outside to do his business. Looking at the time and seeing that it was already 07:00, Jason decided to get started with his day. Packing up and getting ready to head out, Jason did not look back at the 4 other campers but started on the second and most difficult half of the journey.
The four campers were sitting around a small fire making some coffee and relaxing. The familial bond was strong and they seem prepared for anything out here in the forest. There was an older man and woman. And a younger woman and a younger man. “Becky, we have seen alot of hikers in our days, but that has to be one of the strangest boys we have seen. Cute dog though!” the older man, Hal said to his wife. “Hmm, be nice Hal. He looks like he’s been through a lot.” Becky chimed back. “Yeah, dad! Plus I think he was cute!” Samantha, Becky and Hal’s daughter chirped back. “Y’all just gang up on me! Whos got the instant creamer my coffees done!”