Shadows on the Canyon Wall

Terry and Pam have been embroiled in heated competition since third grade. This summer they are returning to Lightning Mountain camp as staff members. They are both assistant unit leaders in the two outback units. Terry plans to hide her animosity for Pam by being totally involved with her girls in preparing for their two week backpacking adventure and avoiding her altogether. She is distraught when she learns that both outback units are going together to explore desert slot canyons. At mid-trip, the camp Director assigns Terry and Pam the task of carrying empty fuel cans down the canyon to trail's end and bringing back full ones for their last week.

Their enmity is so intense that neither speaks to the other the entire five mile trip down the canyon hiking in the water. They have been so distracted and turned-in that neither girl knows which side canyon to take to return to their base camp at Big Springs. Terry finally leads them up one canyon that might be the right one. After a half-hour of arduous plodding they both know they're lost in a stream with the canyon wall raising five hundred feet straight into the sky.

Pam turns on Terry, "Terry, this is not the right canyon! I don think you...''

"Her words are cloaked by a low roll of faraway thunder. Both of our heads snap up to see the distant mountains covered in angry black clouds. My mind swims in self-condemnation. Why have you not been paying attention to the canyon or the weather. Why!? My anxiety level is soaring.

"Overhead, lightning splits an ominous thunderhead simultaneously as thunder explodes in a ground-shaking rumble.

"Pam's next words exude sheer panic, 'Terry, it's raining!''