Winter Outing

(set: $score = 99.8) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] Welcome to Winter Outing. //BZZZZZZ.....new text message...// [[reach over and pick up phone]]

(set: $score = 99.79) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] =|= Hey friend. Sorry I haven't been in touch. Just been grinding away, trying to make the best of the pandemic. How ya been? I was thinking of going for a ski tour up the mountain. It's a beautiful sunny day and the alpine would be stunning right now. Would be just like old times...you game? =|= (background:blue)[I've been good, long time no see! Pandemic has been trying, for sure. We'll get through it eventually] |==| You reply with either: [[Nice to hear from you but I'm not really feeling it]] or [[Good idea! It's been too long and it's the only safe way to get together]]

(set: $score = 99.8) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] Some choices are better than others. Decisions have consequences and unfortunately, your decision doesn't lend itself to a very fun game. Try again. [[reach over and pick up phone]]

(set: $score = 99.6) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] =|= Nice! Ok so the only thing is that the weather is supposed to turn later this evening so we'd have to pack quickly and get up there ASAP. Either that or we can wait until next weekend and go then. I'm easy... =|= (background:blue)[Hmmm. It's been a while since I've been in the alpine...] |==| [[The mountains can be punishing. Let's hold off and go next weekend if the weather looks decent]] or [[Let's fucking go! It'll be to good to catch up and I could use some time in the mountains]]

(set: $score = 99.8) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] //One week later...// <img src="oneweek.jpg" alt="Image of one week..." height="400px" width="400px"/> You both meet up at the trail head and head off. [[start making tracks]]

(set: $score = 99.1) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You quickly run to the basement to gather as many items in your backpack as you can. Your grab your skis, throw them into your roof rack and head out. Your friend is waiting at the trail head for you and you both gear up and head out. [[A few hours later...]]

(set: $score = 98.5) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You find yourself in the alpine on a pristine day. This is just what you needed, and you revel in the apricity of the moment. //ahhhhhhhhh// [[Wait.]]

(set: $score = 97.4) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] you notice a cloud system just over the other side of the mountain peak. It's headed your way. [[This is bad.]]

(set: $score = 94.1) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You quickly tell your friend and point out the storm. He thinks its going to go around and will miss us. Friend: "It's only another hour to the peak and we'll have a panoramic view of the entire valley. Trust me, it's not that much further and then we can ski all the way down. It took us 5 hours to get to this point." Sunk cost fallacy is in full effect and you both decide to continue and hustle toward the peak. [[Here we go]]

(set: $score = 88.3) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] The system rolls right in toward you and you both are in a really bad spot. neither of you can see the trail. The wind is HOWLING so loud that it's even hard to hear each other. For a moment it is hard to even stand up straight. You both kneel down and huddle to wait it out. 30 minutes later there's a break in the storm. You can't see any semblance of a trail from where you've come from. Everything is white, making it hard to discern the snow from the sky. You talk with your friend and assess your options. [[Make your best guess and try and head back to the trail head. ]] [[Hunker down and dig out a snow cave. Wait out the storm and head back when it clear. ]]

(set: $score = 48.2) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You briefly discuss where you think the trail head is, and start the descent. Your eager friend leads the way, about 50 feet in front, just enough to keep them in view. About 15 minutes in...//CRAAACCKK// <img src="crevasse.jpg" alt="Image of a crevasse" height="300px" width="180px"/> They have gone over a hidden crevasse and have fallen forty feet down. They are unresponsive and jammed at the narrowing bottom of the chasm. This is really fucking bad. You have no ropes or any other way of retrieving them. [[Do your best to ski down to trail head and call for help immediately ]]

(set: $score = 71.5) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You both take out your avalanche shovels and assemble them. You frantically dig snow into a pile as big as you can, but it's difficult with so much wind. After 90 minutes you've got a decent sized pile. Now to start hollowing it out. There are no sticks around to insert to gauge the wall thickness, so you do your best. Halfway into hollowing it out, your friend tells you his toes are getting really cold and getting numb. Turns out his ski boots are low quality and not very insulated. Great. He also didn't bring very many calories, and neither did you. It was only supposed to be a day trip anyway. [[Forge ahead with the plan and keep digging. ]]

(set: $score = 57.8) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You get it hollowed out and both tuck inside. Fortunately you had your headlamp in your backpack already, but otherwise would have forgotten it. You both wait while listening to the muted sound of the snow storm, along with the deafening sound of your own poor decisions. [[This is not supposed to happen to me]]

(set: $score = 52.9) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] The storm rages and one of you has to keep making sure the opening to your quinzy doesn't seal shut. Eventually your friend doesn't have the energy to keep checking and its up to you now. They can't feel their feet at all, and you're really worried about it. Bad decisions have wrecked your day, and it's unlikely you'll both survive this. [[The end.]]

(set: $score = 98.4) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] four hours later you're up into the alpine above the tree line. You both want to make it to the peak. You could take a more direct route that would shave at least a few hours, but it has some serious vertical that would be difficult. The other option is much more circuitous, and would push the limits of daylight. Because you've had a week to prepare, you both have headlamps with fresh batteries and lots of calories. [[Pitter patter let's get at 'er]] [[play it safe and take the longer way]]

(set: $score = 48.2) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%]The shorter route is VERY direct. Fortunately both of you are experienced backcountry skiers and aren't particularly worried. Your eager friend leads the way. An hour into the ascent...//CRAAACCKK// They have gone over a hidden crevasse and have fallen forty feet down. They are unresponsive and jammed at the narrowing bottom of the chasm. This is really fucking bad. You have no ropes or any other way of retrieving them. [[Do your best to ski down to trail head and call for help immediately ]]

(set: $score = 96.7) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%]The longer way ends up being a beatiful ski upward, with tremendous views and a sloping comfortable climb. You both reach the peak, enjoy a hot freeze-dried meal, take some pictures, and ski some fresh powder all the way back to the trail head. All together a great time. Well done.

(set: $score = 98.3) (text-colour:(hsl:0,0,0,0.8))+(background:yellow)[Probability of survival: $score%] You get the vehicle and call 911. Now you wait. For help. Bad decisions have probably killed your friend. Mother nature doens't mess around. [[The end.]]

Written by Scott Richmond