The eve of the first day of winter eight of us headed to the hills to celebrate the advent of Christmas to share with family in from Alaska with an overnight stay at Nokhu Hut. We were certain all the bases were covered, but numerous incidents throughout the day and night proved us wrong. Seasoned backcountry schussers could easily make it in an hour, but this trek was about to take us over three. We weren't as prepared as we initially thought as the winter solstice quickly arrived. Light faded fast after leaving the trailhead at 3:45 p.m., and with a mile and half to go in four-foot of snow and darkness closing in our thoughts surged. Would we be safe?

AT FIRST LIGHT