“River,” Bree murmured, catching her attention. They were filming her. Of course they were; that was their job. “Tell us what this feels like.”

Jaw dropped, River tried and failed to verbalize what she felt upon seeing the Veil for the first time. But she couldn’t find the words.

Ben stepped up next to her. “No one has figured out for sure how it formed, but they think it’s a matter of aerodynamics. The temperature of the ice inside the canyon is warmer than on the surface of the glacier. Pressure changes, wind speed. All that science crap turned it into a wind tunnel.”

“What he’s saying is it’s a tough climb to get through,” Easton added. “The wind’s always in your face, and it’s ridiculously strong.”

“That’s why so many people don’t try to summit Mount Veil. The safest way to the top is through the passage.” A low whistle escaped between Ben’s teeth. “You can’t see your hand in front of your face, and it cuts like a son of a bitch. I’ve been through more than most, but she always makes me pause and think: How bad do I really want this?”

Glancing over, River saw Easton watching her. “This is usually where people turn back,” he told her. “No judgment, no shame in changing your mind.”

“I can’t make a documentary about not climbing a mountain.” River turned back to watch the billows of snow gusting down the mountainside below them.

“It’s not always about work,” Easton reminded her.

“Says the man being paid to go through there.”

“I don’t have to be paid to climb. I’m lucky enough to get to work my dream job.”

Clapping a hand on Easton’s shoulder, Ben barked out a laugh. “Buddy, I’ve seen you stuck on the ground for a climbing season, and you’re a nightmare. You should be paying us to let you take us up here.”

They approached the Veil at an angle to avoid the worst of the swirling snow. As they reached the opening of the ice canyon, the shrieking of the wind had grown so loud that River couldn’t tell she had earplugs in. Easton turned to them, yelling to be heard.

“We’re going to have to tether off to this part. We’ve got a fixed line running through the entire Veil. Clip on and triple-check it. One person on each section of the fixed line. The last thing we want is too much weight on a single section. The stakes could pull free, and it’s steep in there.”

“Wait.” Like Easton, Bree had to raise her voice to be heard. “We should film this.”

“No, it’s too dangerous.” Easton shook his head. “The weather’s not going to get any better. Come on. We’re going.”