In Glacier National Park, and on a flat just below the summit of Ahern Pass, is the view of Belly River Canyon. What had almost become the norm during six winter trips inside the park; I again almost lost my life when I fell during a traverse of the area seen beyond the blowing snow in this photo. With my crampons waving in the wind, a firmly placed ice axe saved me from a slide and a drop over the 1000 feet cliff. Later my exhaustion would not let me move beyond this single flat spot in the all-day 2,100 feet climb and traverse, carrying over 80 pounds. Thus I reluctantly spent the night here where the above average snowpack and wind had created a 100-plus-feet deep cornice in a “busted-in-half bowl-of-death” up above.

Ahern Pass Winter Wind