Erika did a quick count as brightly colored ski clothing came into view. Twelve. Cassie’s file had listed eight corporate people and two guides, including her. They’d obviously picked up some hikers along the way.

Cassie must have heard them approach because she turned as they drew closer and she hurried over to them. “We have an injured hiker... Fell through a slab avalanche a hundred feet to this spot. My group saw the beacon as we were trekking out this morning,” she said.

The worry and relief on her friend’s face made a lump rise in Erika’s throat. She was okay.

“So, you’re okay? Your group is okay?” Reed asked, hugging her quickly.

She nodded. “We’re fine. I hurt my foot on the trek up here, but it’s nothing serious. Probably just a sprain. But the injured man has broken bones and we can’t get a litter in here without sending these mountains into a free fall,” she said, casting a glance at the ominous snow peaks above them.

They needed to move fast and get the hell out of there.

“He’s gone into shock and right now, we’re all just trying to keep him from passing out.”

“Where is he?” Erika asked. This was something she could help with. She pushed fear aside and focused on her medical training. This was the reason she was here.

Cassie led the way to the injured man, who was lying on several sleeping bags on the ground. His legs were clearly broken and one shoulder looked dislocated, his arm lying at a weird angle beside him. His head had several large gashes and blood covered his cheeks. He was covered as best as they could in bags and heated blankets, but moving him or trying to assess injuries was nearly impossible.

Fixing a broken clavicle on a conscious man was one thing. These injuries were hours old and the guy was in shock. Her professional oath wouldn’t allow her to attempt anything here.

She pulled Reed aside. “This guy is barely hanging on. We have no idea the extent of his injuries. I’d like to help, but it’s too dangerous to do anything out here.” Even just removing the blankets from his body could cause further damage to him right now. He hadn’t moved in hours, and his body wasn’t self-heating.

“I agree. We have to get him airlifted out of here, but first we have to get him away from the high-danger avalanche zone. A chopper this close will certainly do more damage than good. We could all be snowed in.”