Voices in the Wilderness Surviving a wild wind

We were nearing the end of a mother–daughter backpack trip into the Scapegoat Wilderness. I was in my late teens, eager to explore tall mountains, dark forests and pretend I was the first person to step foot in wild places. We had been enjoying the freedom and solitude of the backcountry for five days, but it was time to re-enter the “real world.” Our packs still seemed a bit heavy, but we only had ten miles to hike out, including crossing a lofty unnamed mountain pass.