Journey to the Summit

The world was a canvas of grey as Liam crested the final ridge. Dawn was a promise hidden behind a thick curtain of fog that clung to the mountain peak like a shroud. Beside him, Tenzing, his guide, a man built like the mountains themselves with weathered skin and eyes that held the wisdom of centuries, paused. Tenzing adjusted the thick woolen scarf around his neck, his breath misting in the frigid air. "Camp is just beyond, sahib," he said, his voice a low rumble. "We rest, then push for the summit." Liam nodded, his own breath catching in his chest. He could feel the biting wind despite his layers of thermals and fleece. He pulled his goggles down, the world sharpening into a hazy monochrome. As he took another step, the fog momentarily parted, revealing a breathtaking vista of jagged peaks piercing the clouds below. It was a glimpse of heaven, a reward for their arduous climb. He paused, drinking in the sight, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. It was beautiful.