Other changes had taken place on the mountain, too. Team Two was defunct. Team Four and Team One were referred to as Team Five. Team Five was very competitive as well as combative, with four men and two women making up its complement. The final cut had been made on Halloween, with most of the team members thinking it was some kind of Halloween prank. It wasn’t.

It was two days before Thanksgiving when Hawkins banked the fire in the huge fieldstone fireplace before turning in for the night. The last thing he did before heading back to his bed was to check the temperature gauge outside on the miniporch. He whooped and shouted to his teammates. “Hey, come look at this!” The women ran to the front window and gasped. The ground was covered with snow, and the thermometer said it was thirty degrees.

A period of squealing and moaning ensued before the group made its way back to bed. An early-morning fitness run was on their schedule. Lights out had been ten minutes ago. There was more moaning and groaning when Slick said they should get their gear ready before they turned in.

A round of good nights followed as Team Three curled up under the covers. The time was nine forty-five.

Snow fell steadily as the temperature dropped and as Team Three slept.

The compound came alive at two o’clock with floodlights, and a bullhorn demanded that all team members report to the compound in five minutes.

“What the hell…” was the general comment as Team Three pulled on their outdoor clothing, zipping and buttoning as they barreled out to the compound. Everyone thanked Slick for the suggestion to ready their clothing before crawling between the covers. They were the first to arrive in the compound. They had to wait a full seven minutes before Team Five arrived, looking like the Key-stone Kops. Team Three made no attempt to hide the smug looks on their faces.

Snow continued to fall, as did the temperature.

Pappy stood front and center, dressed in his cold weather gear. “Listen up! We’re doing a ninety-minute, ten-mile run starting in two minutes. I’m giving you an extra thirty minutes because of the inclement weather. In case you’re wondering why we’re doing this, it’s to test your stamina. Spinally is our group leader. I’ll bring up the rear. If you don’t cut it, or if you fall by the wayside, return to camp and you’ll be given another chance at five thirty. Two and a half hours from now. You will start from this point, not where you failed. Are we all clear on this? I want a show of hands.” When everyone’s hand, including Spinally’s, shot in the air, Pappy said, “Go!”