The micro-spikes I’ve strapped to the bottom of my trail runners make me feel confident. This trail, flanked by breathtaking vistas and soaring cliffs, is dangerous but I’ve never died on a hike before. I’m careful and I grip the chain tightly as we near the top. When I place my right foot on the packed snow, though, it slips out from under me. I lose my grip on the chain. I scream for Kate, but there’s nothing she can do. I make a second, desperate, grab for the chain, but I slip under it and slide toward the abyss.
Hillary Jones is a stay-at-home mom and writer. Instagram: @hillarysbookreview