

Does he have a headlamp? Shouldn’t he be finished with his tour? I’d pull up the local avalanche-center reports and check for news of any accidents. As soon as the sun would set, I’d wait, my mind frantic, desperate to feel the vibration of a text message. My partner at the time was a worry-free skier, climber, and biker who would often put his phone on airplane mode before heading into the mountains.

It wasn’t until I was 30 that I learned not everyone thinks like this. Whenever they leave the house and go on adventures, vivid visions of car crashes and climbing accidents wiggle their way deep into my brain.
