IC: Evolution, In Character - Epoch, Survival, Revolution Campaigns Options

[Bastard]

07:25:07 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Inside the Welcome Center for Horse Camp is basically a sink, a men's room, a ladies room, and a few benches lining two of the walls. There is a bulletin board with regular park fliers and pamphlets filled with warnings. Watch for bears and avalanches, don't litter, try not to die - that sort of thing. There is an abundant amount of various trail information, most of it repeating what the other paperwork says, and pretty much nothing new.

[SneakyJoeKDB]

Bubba moves into the mens room and changes his underclothes into dry clothes. Once he is finished changing, he moves into the main lobby takes a seat on the bench and begins weaving a shoulder "howdah" that would fit the Gnome.

[Bastard]

07:31:16 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Bubba works on his wooden... thing, oblivious to Kliko's questions. He struggles to get the dried sticks to fold, bend and weave into a shape, well mass, without them snapping.

Kliko sees Bubba's mess, but before he can comment he hears the rumbling of a large motor vehicle. He looks back at the giant, but he is concentrating on his pile of sticks. Shortly after he sees a large dark green and white SUV with an amber light bar on top pulling into the parking lot.

[Kliko]

07:31:23 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

'Frag that, mountain patrol' "Yo Bubba, we got company, best hang back here and let me do the talking right"

Kliko approaches the SUV, right hand held high "Hye there! how are you doing sir?" 'Keep it cool chummer, you can handle this' switching back and forth to his thermo visual overlay checking the vehicles occupants.

[Bastard]

07:31:55 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

The vehicle comes to a stop and parks in front of the cabin closest to the Welcome Center. Kliko can now read the markings on the side of the truck that read "Mount Shasta Forest Services." A large built man climbs down out of the off-roader, wearing a forest-green ranger uniform, a mountie hat and a pistol belt. He returns the greeting with a touch to the brim of his hat with his right hand.

"Mornin' to ya, partner. Headin' up to the summit today?"

He heads towards the cabin as he speaks, his keys still in hand.

[Kliko]

07:31:58 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

"at least halfway up sir, staying the night between Shastina and the summit. We'll make our attempt at the summit tomorrow morning and plan on making our descend partially by skiing the south-east slopes tomorrow afternoon." the best lies afterall were half-truths "I don't think the weatherforecast is solid enough to spend the night at the summit." 'at least that was true enough'. "Besides, I'm not sure the dragon that is supposed to live up there welcomes visitors to stay overnight." 'and best not to end up as his breakfast'. "Anything we should lookout for back there?" nodding in the mountains general direction, changing the subject away from the draco "my last weatherforecast was as of yesterday evening..."

[Bastard]

07:32:09 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

"Oh, yeah, Camp Whitney, right by the glaciers. It's gonna be bout as cold there as it is on the summit. I believe there is gonna be a storm rollin' in tonight, which should provide you some nice powder for tomorrow. That is if it hits, its supposed to pass Shasta with these heavy winds we been havin'."

"About that dragon, she is pretty personable, ya know for a dragon," he says with a big smile. His smile subsides, "or so I hears. At least I know you can stay at her Lodge, but it takes a lot of arrangin' and paperwork, background checks... and who knows how much money, or even if it costs anything.

"Well, watch out for avalanches and bears, that's all I can say. Avalanches are rare, bears this time of year are even more so, but both can sneak up on you if you aren't alert. Be safe out there, it's more difficult coming down in this weather, than it is going up," he pauses for a second, like a thought has just come to him. "And try to stay warm out there."

He turns back to the task at hand, putting the key into the door and unlocking it. He starts to turn the handle and looks back at Kliko, "You guys run into any trouble, you reach us on Channel 9 on the radio."

[Kliko]

07:32:30 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

"To be honest all we can really do if the storm hits Camp Whitney tonight is dig out a small snow shelter and sit tight sir. I brought 4 days of supplies with me so we should be fine really. Otherwise we'll radio in on channel 9."

"Sir, before I forget, my buddy is changing clothes in one of these cabins right there... best you know so he can have a little privacy." Kliko turns around to find his backpack. 'best have an energybar before the next part of our trip'.

[Bastard]

07:32:35 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

The ranger smiles, turns, wipes the snow off the sign that hidden hanging from the door. He closes the door behind him that now reads "MSFS Ranger Office, Horse Camp."

It isn't long before Kliko spots V and Duster rounding the bend, making their way into the camp. They seem deep in conversation, probably about magic, the astral world, or some other voodoo mumbo jumbo.

[Kliko]

07:33:05 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NN

"Yo Bubba, get ready and get moving! time to hit the trail again!" Kliko makes sure to give Duster and V the eyes-on, pointing at the ranger's cabin and thumbs-up signal before heading out again.

[Bastard]

07:33:15 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Duster returns the hand signals with one of his own, in good fun.

Looking in the Welcome Center, Kliko can see Bubba hard at work, with his pile of sticks, with complicated interwoven paterns, but still indistinguishable from a pile of sticks.

[Kliko]

07:33:20 Saturday, December 03, 2061 – Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

"Bubba! what are you doing! we got to hit the trail chummer, the others are right here!, now get a move on and leave these sticks behind will ya."

[Bastard]

07:33:23 Saturday, December 03, 2061 - Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Bubba's concentration is broken, and he looks up from his mass of kindling.

[SneakyJoeKDB]

Bubba looks up, "But...but... da poor little Gnome is not here yets and I am almost dones. I will carry da little gomes in dis basket on me shoulders!" Bubba smiles from ear to ear proudly as he holds up his stick mess basket. "Da little Gnomes feets wont have to get tireds." Bubba tries to find a way to position or tie the messy stick basket onto his shoulders and then he starts to look for RG.

"RG where ares yous?"

[Bastard]

07:34:40 Saturday, December 03, 2061 - Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

The giant picks up the mass of sticks and carries it with him outside in his search for RG. V and Relentless are approaching the crowd when they stop in their tracks. Bubba is approaching with a medicine ball sized mass held proudly in front of him with both hands. Kliko looks at the trail of sticks the big oaf is leaving behind him, and remembers Bubba's claims of being "surprisingly sneakies," and is starting to have doubts.

V gasps at the thing, "Is that a hornet's nest!?"

[SneakyJoeKDB]

Bubba, chuckles at V. "Dis is a basket I mades to help carry RG, have you seen hers?." Bubba looks around and realizes his basket is dropping a trail of sticks. "Oops, maybe da basket wasnt da best ideas... Well, da little gnome needs sum helps maybes I can carry hers or hers stuffs."

[Kliko]

07:34:50 Saturday, December 03, 2061 - Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

'What the frag am I going to do with this guy?' "Very nice of you Bubba I'm sure RG will appreciate it. You guys know how far they are behind? I don't want linger around any longer, the local ranger just arrived for work if you see what I mean... friendly chap I must say" 'and the fragger is probaply watching us, enjoying a warm cup of kaf, as we speak' "but by no means a fool. Come on Bubba, we're out of here. RG will have to wait till our next rest halfway upto Hidden Valley. We will switch some of his load to you right there."

Kliko heads out for the trail again. Early mornings were damned cold enough as they were. Better to keep on moving for now and rest later.

[Bastard]

07:34:46 Saturday, December 03, 2061 - Horse Camp, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 7,800 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

After Bubba's explanation of his masterpiece, V and Duster just look at each other, trying to hold back the laughter.

"I am sure she will be fine. Trust me, we would hear about it if she wasn't. She can haul her own load, but you can't expect her to keep up at your pace with those tiny little chicken-wing sized legs," Duster tries to explain to the troll.


08:30:01 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,200 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 10 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Though you never quite saw a sunrise, some daylight has been pushing through since you hit Horse Camp, making the trails a bit easier to find. It seems to have warmed up a bit, too, but it is still cold enough to bitch about.

So far this trail hasn't been much of a hike. It has had a steady incline and runs along the mountain, not exactly up it. The trail was dirt, maybe in the summer months, but now it is hardened mud covered with some snow. The cold might actually make it easier to keep your footing along these paths. Come breakup, you would be walking in ankle deep mud.

Looking up the mountain, you can see the snow only gets thicker. It's a good thing Relentless squared everyone away with some gear. Those crampons aren't going to be just handy, but probably essential to your climb this afternoon. You are sure the ice axes won't be unneeded weight as well.

[SneakyJoeKDB]

"Ok Klikos, lets move ons, I am just worrieds about da team so far aparts and was trying to dink of ideas to helps." Bubba moves along side Kliko and begins the hike up this time a little more focused.

[Bastard]

08:45:31 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,400 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 12 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Not much further along the trail it starts to fade. Soon the two metahumans find themselves surrounded by snow in every direction. The mountain rises rapidly just to their right, covered in a blanket of white. Its pretty easy to see the general direction to go... up, but they are unsure of the exact route and location of Hidden Valley or Camp Whitney.

Kliko pulls out his map and looks for distinguishing landmarks, besides the summits of Shasta and Shastina. He is deep in his studies, looking up at the mountain, down at the map, back at the path of smashed snow from which they came, and back up at the mountain, down at the map, and over and over again. The ridges and gulches don't seem to be as prominent as they were in the photographs at Horse Camp and back at Cascade Cabins and Lodge. It seems to all look the same when covered in a few feet of snow.

While Bubba waits on Kliko to find the path, he loses his patients and his mind starts to wander. Pacing around, kicking snow, day dreaming about a donut shop at the top of the mountain. That's when he notices something off in the distance. It's almost straight ahead, and a little up the mountain side, but it is obvious what it is. A trail marker, with one big wooden arrow pointing to the right, up the mountain, and another pointing left, down the mountain. There is also a wooden sign nailed to it, but Bubba cannot read that from over 150 meters away, and it is turned at a 45 degree angle from where he stands.

[SneakyJoeKDB]

"Uh Klikos... Klikos... KLIKOS!" When Bubba finally has Kliko's attention he points to the trail marker and wooden sign. "I thinks you wants to look at thats."

[Kliko]

08:45:35 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,400 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 12 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

The digital overlay displayed in Kliko's the image link was definately starting to run out of out of sync with the world around them 'damn, that's what you get if you pay cheap'' "Thanks Bubba! Missed the sign right there. Must be some kind of glitch in the mapsoft I guess. It happens you know, especially when they combine seperately compiled softs. Never depend on one single system chummer" tapping the physical map hanging around his neck. "Let's get going, suppose we'll take a short rest and grab a bite when were at the sign up there"

[Bastard]

[quote name='Bastard' date='Mar 26 2009, 11:48 AM' post='788053']
08:45:31 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,400 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 12 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

Walking through the snow is quite a bit more exhausting than it was on the trails. Though the snow pushes away and compacts easily underneath Bubba's massive frame, the sheer volume of snow starts taking its toll. At least the giant is taking the brunt of it, though. By the time the others arrive, they will have a nice stomped down path to follow. It's good to have a giant and an ork to trail blaze for you.

When the two arrive at the sign, Kliko is able to tell they are still on course. The left arrow points down the hill and reads, "<- McBride Springs 5 miles." The right points upwards, "Hidden Valley .5 mile, Cascade Gulch, West Face Gully, Shasta Summit 7 miles, Shastina Summit 6.5 miles. ->" There is also an arrow that was not visible until your approach, aimed back the way you came. It reads, "Horse Camp 1 mile, Bunny Flats 2.5 miles. ->"

The sign does not point the direction of travel, but to which trailhead to take. The only problem is, the trail head is not visible under one foot of snow. Both Bubba and Kliko know the general location, probably upwards. It could keep wrapping around the mountain side like it has though, so Kliko double checks.

[Kliko]

08:45:39 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,400 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 12 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

The digital overlay he was studying started to re-align itself with the world outside as Kliko measured and cross-referenced key-landmarks around them 'much better, if you want it done properly, you do it yourself' The shimmering trail again unwinding itself along the slope in front of them.

"another half click and we get to Hidden Valley Bubba... give me a sec to check some of my readings Bubba and catch some breath allright" Elevation from sea-level already started to kick in for Kliko. 'probaply get even worse higher up' while Kliko makes a quick check through the biomonitor's readings he finds his respiratory rate is already increasing. 'Best put it up the image link and take good care to adjust pace on heart rate. We got a long day ahead of us chummer, best to keep it easy going'

Kliko grabs another energybar breaking away the wrapper and starts munching away on it, taking careful notice not to leave any litter behind "let's get going Bubba, somewhat slower pace please. We still have a long day and climb ahead of us... Now tell me how long have you working this bizz really? You don't seem to me the average troll hard case -no pun intended- type I usually work with "

[Bastard]

08:45:55 Saturday, December 03, 2061 -Cascade Trail, Mount Shasta, Approximate Elevation: 8,400 ft
Approximate Weather Conditions: 38 degrees Fahrenheit, Overcast, 12 inches of snow, Wind 10-15 mph NNE

As Kliko’s visual overlay lines up, he is able to gain a course. It is about a half a click to up to the top of the ridge, but it is a lot of elevation over that short distance. It might be time to strap on the spikes. It will slow you down a bit on trails, but it looks like you are going to be playing in the snow from here on out. After the two reach the top of the ridge, there should be some downhill into Hidden Valley. Kliko estimates around two or three thousand meters or so. After that, the mountain climbing will begin.

Looking up past the ridge, the mountain still towers another six thousand feet. While Mount Shasta's beauty is a bit humbling and peaceful, you would still rather have the familiar surroundings of a sprawl, where you know what lurks around every corner and every alley. You.

Out here, you aren't really the most scary thing around. Most of the bears are hibernating, but they sometimes wake and go searching for food. That is not the thing that has most people on Shasta on their toes this time of year. It is the mountain itself. It could destroy something as insignificant as a metahuman (in comparison) in a flash. Rock slides, avalanches, hypothermia and frostbite are its weapons of choice, but there is more. It may be you have just spent too much time in the big city, surrounded by all its man-made mountains and its inhabitants, but something out here has you feeling more than out of place.

Could it be the "call of the wild?" It does spark a bit of wonder, relief, serenity, excitement... a whole mix of feelings and emotions just being out away from it all. Though, technically, this is a business trip. But that isn't it either. It is something more. It is like the mountain itself is alive.