Heart of Ice by Carolyn Keene Page B

from your water bottles,” Logan told everyone. “You may not think you’re thirsty, but you’re losing water as you sweat, so drink up.”
    Nancy pulled her water bottle out from inside her parka, where it was carried to keep the water from freezing. After taking a sip, she handed the bottle to Ned.
    â€œThanks,” he murmured.
    Kara opened a bag of nuts, raisins, and sunflower seeds and passed them around. Nancy wasn’t feeling hungry, but dutifully took a handful.
    She passed the bag to Eladio, who paused for a second. “Could you scoop me up a handful and put it into my glove?” he finally asked her.
    Nancy laughed, reached inside to pull out a handful, and carefully let the contents fall into Eladio’s gloved palm.
    After everyone had a chance to eat, drink, and take a short rest, the group began climbing again. Moving slowly, they made their way upthe Paradise Glaciers—snow-covered masses of ice with occasional rocks jutting out on either side.
    At one point the group had to cross a five-foot snow bridge, which Nancy learned was several thin layers of snow covering a deep crevasse. A snow bridge was sometimes the only way to cross a hundred-foot-deep crevasse, though most crevasses were narrow enough to step across. Some snow bridges were several feet thick, while others were just a few inches, in which case they would collapse under a person’s weight.
    â€œJust walk slowly and surely, and stay in the center,” Logan advised Nancy from behind. “You’ll do fine.”
    Nancy’s heart raced as she stepped onto the bridge, which was about five feet across. She was tempted to run across it as fast as she could, but knew that was the worst thing she could do.
    After about five heart-wrenching steps, Nancy reached the other side and solid ground. Heaving a sigh of relief, she continued up the icy glacier after the others.
    When the group was just below Anvil Rock, they stopped for lunch, settling into a snowbank that protected them from the wind. They were at nine thousand five hundred feet.
    â€œAre you all right?” Nancy asked Eladio, who was quite pale.
    â€œI’m fine,” he said. “I’m just not hungry.”
    â€œAfter all that climbing, I’m starved,” Ned put in, reaching for a sandwich.
    Nancy looked at the lunch of cheese and salami on whole-grain bread. With a pang she realized that she didn’t feel hungry either. The altitude was starting to get to her. “I’m not hungry,” she admitted to Eladio. “But if we eat, I’m sure we’ll feel better.”
    â€œEveryone has to eat at least half a sandwich.” Kara coached. “If you don’t keep fueling yourselves, your bodies will shut down and we won’t make it to the top.”
    Nancy reached for a sandwich, and by the fourth bite found it actually tasted good.
    As everyone ate, the conversation drifted to Camp Muir, where they’d be staying that night.
    â€œIt marks the line between the upper and the lower mountains,” Alex explained. “Most people who climb the mountain from the south use it as a takeoff point for the summit.”
    â€œHow many people go through Camp Muir in the winter?” Eladio asked.
    â€œNot too many,” Kara answered. “Maybe ahundred. Though over a thousand might come through in a single summer season,” she added.
    â€œDoes anybody want another sandwich?” Alex asked, holding up what was left of the salami. When nobody responded, he put the bread and meat back into his backpack.
    When they started off again, Nancy listened to the sound of everyone pressure-breathing.
    Within an hour and a half they reached Camp Muir. Perched on one side of a ridge, Camp Muir consisted of five buildings, most of which were mainly buried under snow. The group would stay in the largest building, which was reserved for public use.
    It was getting dark, but nevertheless the view from