Chapter 21

At 10:37 a.m., they made it the top of Mount Hood. To the east the sky was clear, and Kendal could see farther than she had ever seen in her entire life. Off in the distance were three other mountains and, in between, deep valleys and lakes.

“You did it,” Jeremy said, pulling out his camera and taking a picture of Kendal and her father at the top—the sky above them, the world below.

Kendal wanted to stay there a bit longer and take it all in, but after just five minutes, Jeremy said they had to start their descent. His face looked concerned as he looked at the clouds racing in from the west.

When they reached the Pearly Gates, snow began to fall. At first it was light, just a few flakes, but then it started coming down heavy and fast.

“We need to stick together. We don’t want to be separated in this,” Jeremy said. He told them to turn on their headlamps so they could see each other. He then loosely tied a rope around his waist and handed the other end to Kendal’s father. The three of them were now linked together.

The wind picked up and blew the snow so hard that it felt like tiny pieces of sand hitting Kendal’s face. They had to stop and put on face masks and goggles. The goggles made the white snow turn gold.

Kendal couldn’t help thinking of Nellie Bly. Trapped in a storm. Surrounded by gold.