you give Strict our coordinates?”
“Yeah.”
“Think I should spread out your tent so they can find us easily?”
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
I pulled Landon’s tent from its bag and went looking for an open area. After spreading it out I put a couple of stakes down to hold it in place. When I got back to Landon he was removing the radio and burrowing in his pack. He handed me several packets.
“I’ll trade you, the basic first aid kit for the rest of the cookies.”
If I was going to have to pack his medical supplies and the radio I wanted to get rid of some weight from my pack anyway, so we struck a deal. I ate one cookie and gave him the rest. When he saw there were more than four he looked at me like I had been holding out on him earlier. I just couldn’t imagine anybody eating more than four cookies at a time. Two was my limit. I unpacked both packs, except for his personal things in the bottom pocket, then we picked and chose what he thought I might need or was authorized to use. I packed them hoping all the identical little packets wouldn’t be needed. I sent some of my backpacker food with him since I didn’t expect to be out for more than another day. He took my water purifier since I didn’t expect to see any water to purify. This little detour was seriously cutting into my tracking time.
As we heard the helicopter closing in I got up and walked to the clearing to flag it down. I didn’t think there was enough space to land but at least they could spot us easily. When they spotted us I helped Landon hobble over to the clearing, then rolled up his tent and hastily stuffed it back in its sack. A basket was lowered along with a volunteer and together we helped Landon onto the stretcher.
“I’ll call when I get out of here,” I yelled over the noise.
“I’ll be sure and need some help.”
I gave him a friendly punch to the shoulder and he was pulled up into the bay. The helicopter flew a wide circle searching for our missing person, then headed back to town. I noted grimly that they didn’t leave me an EMT. I was on my own but I didn’t mind so much. I could track, camp and find my ten sixty-five alone. I just hoped Ally wouldn’t need medical attention. It was possible that the helicopter hadn’t taken Landon to town, but only to base camp where an ambulance took him the rest of the way. If that were true then maybe Strict still had someone who would be joining me later. I watched the helicopter, then turned and jogged to the last track I’d found. I was glad I had passed the hardest part of the search and Ally was pointed in a good direction for tracking. The tracks led on and I followed them as quickly as I dared. When I had started out I’d hoped to find Ally that day. Now it was doubtful.
Chapter 5
Strict checked in with me frequently. It was always just a quick, friendly check up and he never kept me on the radio long.
Ally’s tracks reflected a change in her mood. She had started out with a spring in her step which gradually faded to a cautious but steady hike. She had a nice, ground eating stride, unless she became distracted, which happened occasionally. I followed her as she investigated an animal den and I was surprised to learn that it was empty at this time of year. Later she climbed a tree looking for the right direction but the tree she chose was over the mountain from the meadows so she wasn’t able to see it. She stopped frequently but the reason for her stops weren’t always apparent. It was always in a place where there was no shade or other tracks, and she didn’t sit to rest. Perhaps she saw a bird or heard a noise. It wasn’t clear, but I was glad she was taking her time.
I tracked until it grew dark and I could no longer see footprints on the ground. I stopped reluctantly because I still hadn’t found the place Alisondra had spent the night. Usually I stopped earlier than nightfall, so I could cook, clean up and set up camp before it got dark. Since I was alone I could rough it a little more. When I was with the guys I made a point to set up a tent and roll out a sleeping bag. If I didn’t have everything they felt I needed they felt guilty and began providing for my comfort. It was a relief to be able to camp however I wanted so I didn’t set up my tent. I just rolled it up loosely and used it like a bivouac sack. After pumping up my little one burner gas stove, I heated up water and added it to the pouch of a backpacker meal. Then I used the rest of the water for hot chocolate. Backpacker food, oatmeal, trail mix and hot chocolate were my camping staples. I always came home craving fruits, vegetables and sweets. Preferably cheesecake.
When my meal was finished I folded up the pouch, tucked it into a trash bag, then rinsed the cup and fork. As I lay in my makeshift tent, the smooth nylon brushing my face when the wind blew, I pictured Rusty, just like I always did before falling asleep. I’d told him this would be a quick trip but I hadn’t planned on spending hours helping Landon. I hoped Rusty wouldn’t be angry if he found out I’d continued alone. I knew he wouldn’t be mad at me. He would expect it of me, but he might be mad at Strict, telling him he should have called and Rusty would have jumped on the helicopter himself. I fell asleep with thoughts of Rusty and awoke in the morning determined to find Alisondra and get back home. I enjoyed the solitude and my time in the woods but each night I was away I felt more and more guilty and homesick.
Mornings in the mountains were my favorite time of day. Everything felt crisp and new. The sun didn’t pound down, it filtered in sideways through the trees. Everything was still and peaceful. I went through my morning routine on automatic, only because I knew I’d last longer in my tracking if I ate properly. I took note of how much water I had left. I was tempted to pour some out to cut down on weight but knew I might need to share when I found my ten sixty-five. I found the end of the trail and started out, reading carefully and as quickly as I dared. I’d been on the trail for an hour when Strict checked in.
“How are you?” he asked. “Holding up okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Got a call from Rusty last night.”
“You knew to expect that.”
“Yeah, I should have. Should have kept my mouth shut too. He wasn’t as upset as Peter was though. I had to outline your many successful tracking expeditions before Peter was convinced you’d be okay out there.”
I gave him the coordinates off the GPS and he plotted my location on a map then let me get back to my tracking, not that I’d quit. It was just easier to track without dealing with the radio.
If there was ever a search for me to do alone, I thought as I tracked, this is it. I had learned a lot about Alisondra as I followed her footsteps. She was a sturdy and practical woman who was also whimsical and fun. She became distracted by the simplest of things yet she kept her head and didn’t panic even though her path never made any sense. I found myself thinking, if I needed to get back to Elk Meadows from here I’d just go over this hill, turn west at the big shale mountain and I’d be there. But Ally didn’t seem to own a sense of direction.
I was tracking along, still worried that I hadn’t found the place where Ally had spent the night, when I heard a movement ahead in some rocks.
“Are you looking for me?” a voice called out from above.
“Are you
