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Maria was relieved to reach the ranger station. The journey from her apartment to Big Trees usually took forty minutes but, on this occasion, lasted more than three hours. The snowplows had done their best but the storm – especially the wind – was gathering strength with every passing minute. Maria had passed three road accidents but fortunately police and paramedics were attending every one. March was only the third month of her first year as a ranger cadet and she suspected the storm might provide her sternest challenge yet. 

—————

Chief Murray was a tough veteran who knew Big Trees better than anyone. As the snow lashed the station windows, his team of twelve gathered around in parkas, holding steaming mugs of coffee.

‘I thought I might need you all and unfortunately this has just come in.’ Murray held up a sheet of paper. ‘From a concerned relative. Her brother and his family were camping below Mount Hawkins. Guess they thought the worst of the weather had passed.’ The chief glanced ruefully at the nearest window. ‘Guess most of us did too. They were supposed to call in every six hours but it’s been ten since the last call. Mobile coverage is spotty out there but they have a radio too. Nothing. The guy is called Luis Vasquez, experienced hiker and camper. He’s out there with wife Carmen and daughter Valinda – aged thirteen. We can get to the campsite on foot in four hours, at least see what condition they’re in. That trail’s no good for trucks or snowmobiles. This is the first incident tonight, probably not the last. I’ll take this one with three of you. The other seven will stay here with Deputy Frost’.

Maria didn’t mind Frost but she preferred Murray because she could learn more from him. So when he selected two experienced men and her, she was both relieved and excited. Maria believed she’d done well in her first few months and her relentless training regime ensured that she always kept pace with the other rangers. Once they’d changed into their wet weather gear and hauled on their packs, the four set off from the station, Chief Murray in the lead.

It was tough going. They were walking into a headwind and through increasingly thick snow. Maria was very grateful for the brilliant protective gear that the ranger service provided and she plowed on like the others in the wake of the relentless chief. Even though he had turned fifty that spring, Murray possessed a legendary degree of endurance. He also knew a shortcut that eventually took them through dense pine forest and along a series of narrow trails that Maria found utterly confusing. He didn’t hesitate once.

They stopped for the first time at the two-hour mark. Murray got a radio call through to the station. There was no new information on the Vasquez family but the other rangers were busy with a variety of calls. With a couple of minutes to drink water and down some energy bars, the four rangers marched on.

At three hours, Maria admitted to herself that she was beginning to tire. She was right behind Chief Murray but it was now a struggle to keep pace. Hood up, eyes half closed, she told herself to stop thinking and focus entirely on the task at hand.

Suddenly the chief stopped. Maria moved to his right to see what he was looking at. There, on the snow-covered ground just ahead was a set of footprints. Whoever it was had turned off the trail into the forest. When Murray glanced in that direction, Maria did too.

And then she saw the body. He was lying on his back beside a tree, one hand reaching upward. Gripped by fear, Maria nonetheless followed the others over to him. His mouth and eyes were open, his skin now frozen and blue. He seemed to be well-dressed and equipped but something had obviously gone terribly wrong.

Chief Murray knelt beside him and unzipped three layers of clothing before he could find a wallet. Using his head-light, he illuminated an ID card.

‘It’s Luis Vasquez. Guess he was coming for help. Heart attack would be my guess. Hasn’t been dead long. Maybe only a couple of hours.’

Maria shook her head in disbelief; if only they’d reached him sooner.

Murray replaced the wallet and stood up. ‘Everyone hydrate and then we continue on. It’s another two miles to the campsite.’

‘We just leave him?’ asked Maria.

‘Nothing we can do for him now,’ replied Murray as he opened his flask.

Within a minute they were on their way. Maria couldn’t stop herself taking one last look back at the body of Luis Vasquez.

—————

Reaching the campsite, Maria was relieved to see that the Vasquez tent was still intact, despite the awful conditions. As the rangers’ flashlights illuminated the orange canvas, Murray turned and gripped her arm.

‘Maria, I’d like you to inform the wife and daughter.’ He nodded at the other two rangers. ‘These guys have taken their turn before and I’ve done it more often than I care to remember. There has to be a first time.’

Maria gulped with anxiety. She hadn’t expected this. But she trusted the chief and knew this was a crucial part of training.

‘Remember what you were taught,’ said the kindly veteran. ‘Be factual and calm but also compassionate. I know you’ve good with people. You’ll be fine. Are you ready?’

Murray gestured towards the tent. 

The trek had been tough. Seeing the body had been horrible. Maria knew this would be far, far worse. She nodded to the chief and walked across the snow.

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