Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Survival in a Mountain Cave - by J.Arthur -

   ***

   Mother and son's pilgrimage on the anniversary of husband/fathers death
to the mountain site from where he fell.  The pair being caught out in an
unexpected blizzard while camping on the upper slope.  Forcing them to
survive anyway they can.  (mF, inc, rom, cons, surv, preg)

   ***

   It was the fourth anniversary of dad's death.  The fourth time mum and I
made the annual pilgrimage back to the sight on that remote mountain side
in the national park where he had so tragically lost his life.

   Ever since I was young we had gone camping every summer and fall
holidays before I could remember so dad could take photos of wildlife in
the national parks for his photography business.

   The anniversary of his death was in the early fall.  Mostly the weather
had been kind over the ensuring years.  The second anniversary had been
rather cold for that time of year but the forecasts were mostly accurate
for the area.

   It's still hard for us to believe that dad was gone.  Yes life had gone
on without his presence, well to me it seemed as if it was like taking his
picture off the wall.  He wasn't there any more.  The wall where he was
hanging was still there, but not his picture.

   I was sixteen when it happened.  We were on our annual field trip with
dad as usual, camped on the mountain, high up on the north west meadow, way
above the tree line were the three of us had walked the hour up from our
camp site to Barker's ledge to watch and photograph the mountain goats as
they migrated down from their summer peaks to the lower wintering foothills
and meadows.

   Dad was a renowned wildlife photographer.  He was in between
assignments. Filling in to earn extra with shots of the wild animals of one
of his favored places the national park which could be used as background
in future advertising.  It was a kind of working holiday where the extra
money would go for my college education in the future.

   I still remember that day vividly.  Mum and I had his second camera with
the smaller telephoto lens setting up further up the ledge.  When we turned
around dad had disappeared.

   What we now think happened was dad had set up his camera then went to
wipe his lens as his pack was open in his camera bag, then accidentally
lost his balance or footing falling over the edge.  We were only twenty or
so metres away, hearing nothing.  To us dad just simply vanished.

   Mum and I couldn't believe it.  We hung around for an hour or two
thinking he may have gone back to camp for something without saying.  We
spent the night at our camp cuddled together as mum cried herself to sleep
in my arms.

   The next morning I made my way down the mountain for help which left her
alone overnight.  As it was almost dark by the time I made it to the ranger
station at the park base to raise the alarm.

   I spent the night in one of their bunk beds in the bunk house.  Nothing
could be done overnight as there was no moon.  In the morning a search
would be mounted for dad.

   Next morning I had my first ride in a helicopter from the rescue
service. The mountain sure looked different from the air.  In fifteen
minutes we were landing near our camp site on a flat area on the high
meadow.  Mum was not there as the helicopter dropped us off then went
searching as I and three rangers walked the hour up to Barker's ledge where
we were photographing from the days before.

   Ten minutes after it left to search, they located dad's body below the
ledge then flew back to base to transport more help and climbing equipment
up to us for the recovery of his body.

   Two days later mum and I had a lonely six hour drive back home.  It had
been so sad for us, there was funeral arrangements to be made.  We think
dad had simply stepped back or tripped as far as we could work out as we
hadn't seen or heard a thing.

   It took something like six months for all the arrangements to be made
and finalised.  Dad's insurance paid the house off with enough put aside
for my college education.

   Mum worked part time before dad's death, now she went full time to keep
herself busy as I would be off to college for the next few years leaving
mum on her own at home, as the nearest college was in the capital two
hundred and fifty something miles away.

   Dad's first anniversary was coming up.  Mum and I had sat down and
talked to decide how it should be observe.  We decided in the end we would
make a pilgrimage back to the mountain side where his spirit was, to keep
mum happy as that's what she wanted.

   It was really sad for us as we hiked up that mountain with our back
packs full for a five day round trip.  We would hike up and down in two
easy day stages.  A little over half way up there was a cave in the side of
an ancient glacier valley.  It was formed from three giant slabs of rock
with one slab sitting on the other.  With all the sedimentary ground around
cementing the slabs over eons together from the glacier conglomerates. 
Somehow nature and water had tunneled out between the lower slabs forming
the cave.

   The cave was very handy besides being one of the parks best geological
feature attractions as it supplied shelter on the mountainside for those
walking their way up to the summit to view the wild goats.

   Mum and I spent the night in the cave without pitching our tent as we
would have to do for our next two nights up on the exposed meadow.  The
glacier cave as it was known was about forty feet deep being roughly ten to
fifteen feet high in the back and roughly twelve wide with a much smaller
entrance.

   There was no sign of the water that carved the conglomerate away.  It
had taken another path after blocking up or just dried up, leaving the cave
dry.  Enterprising walkers over the years had dug and chipped the floor
nearly level for their tents and sleeping bags.

   The second and third nights were spent in the open on the meadow above
the tree line in a depression, sheltered from the biting cold winds by a
dry stone wall stacked nearly a meter high and long enough to hide three
small tents behind.

   We then spent the day, as mum explains it, with dad on the anniversary
of his death up on Barker's ledge watching the wild life and beauty of the
place where mum could be close to him as each year we enlarged the stone
cairn in his memory against the cliff wall on the ledge where he had
fallen.

   The second year the weather turned foul on us as we spent the day with
dad sitting in the rain watching the clouds swirl around the mountain peaks
above us as if dad was angry with us for coming back.

   The third year, my first in collage.  Mum and I made the pilgrimage in
beautiful weather.  It was just magic to be up there with dad.  Mum was so
happy.  I had worried about her as she refused to date or go out, letting
her work consume her.

   It is our fourth anniversary pilgrimage, this story is really about.  It
was my second year at college.  Separated from mum by that long bus trip. I
lived in the college dorms, working hard in my chosen field of civil
engineering.  I had arranged with my lecturer to have the fortnight off
when dad's anniversary was nearing to make the trip.

   Mum was so happy to see me, well I was just as happy to see her getting
a big hug and kiss when she met me at the bus terminal.  Remarking with
surprise how tall I was now.



   We had arranged to set out first thing in the morning for the national
park in our old station wagon.

   We were really happy to be together again.  My grades were looking good,
rewarding me for the hard work I was putting in.  The local weather
forecast for the mountain was promising as we went to bed early that night
after packing the car ready as was our habit.

   We got away at three am.  as usual.  Arriving at the park headquarters
just before nine where we booked in with the ranger leaving our car in the
long term back car-park beside other visitors who were camping out in the
park.  The local weather forecast was for a week front coming in later in
the week.  We had seen this before not worrying as the weather hadn't
turned bad up here yet in all the years we had been coming here with such a
forecast.

   We were keen as we set off on our five days pilgrimage on the mountain.
I was not as fit as I should have been with all the studying I was doing at
college now.  Mum was keeping up her walking regime every day.  We were in
no hurry as the stages were easy so we would not be hard pressed to reach
our way-points on time.

   On the third morning we walked from our high meadow camp site after
breakfast up to Baker's Ledge.  We spent the first hour with dad as we
waited for the hour of his disappearance to approach.  The clouds which had
came up quickly were swirling making visibility poor.

   We had no idea that things were going wrong with the weather as we
hadn't brought a radio, well not until the temperature started dropping
dramatically.  I looked at mum as we took notice.  We agreed we should not
be on the mountain.  We didn't know but a sudden massive cold front from
the Arctic was sweeping down upon us so fast.

   By the time we made it back to the tent an hour later, it was snowing
hard with the temperature still dropping.  We were extremely worried.  The
only safe place to shelter on this north west exposed mountain side was the
glacier cave and that was a good five hours if we really pushed.

   Throwing our stuff in our backpacks we set out at a fast rate.  The snow
and sleet was driving with the freezing winds now, as I pushed harder.  The
snow was building up, I was confident I could find my way down the trail as
we were almost jogging with our back packs while we could.

   We couldn't keep that pace up long, having to slow as it was slushy now,
being treacherous underfoot.  Another problem we were to encounter was the
mountain was covered in a thick dark cloud reducing daylight plus we found
ourselves two hours later battling through a foot of snow falling heavily
with driving freezing cold winds, making life impossibly miserable as it
was getting still colder.

   I knew exactly where we were.  We were about two hours from the cave. 
Mum was exhausted unable to go much further at the pace I was trying to
keep.  I decided to leave my backpack as it was the heavier of the two and
carry hers as it had the tent and one sleeping bag plus more than half the
food.

   Mum protested as I took hers from her, slinging it on my back as I left
mine on the lee side of the base of the tree we were under, where I knew I
could find again in front of a huge egg shape rock.  I would have to come
back for it as I couldn't carry mum plus the extra back pack.

   We set out faster as what light there was was fading badly.  The weather
was setting in worse being unbelievably cold.  I was getting worried as I
urged mum on to her utmost.  We had to make the cave as our best means of
survival.  The snow was to wet turning to slush but it was getting colder.

   I cursed the light as it was so dark now we could hardly see landmarks
plus the snow distorted the landscape.  We were an hour short as we made
our way down the still well defined mountain path.  We had torches of
course as I dragged mum along by the hand.  I was using the torch now as it
was impossible to see without.

   The snow was falling heavier as it was getting harder to force our way
through.  It took us two hours to cover the distance we could do easily in
an hour.  Mum was exhausted as I made our way around the last bend in the
trail carrying her with her arm over my shoulder as the rock face loomed
out of the darkness to my relief.  We had made the cave and safe shelter,
just.

   It was such a relief to be out of the freezing cold wind with the
driving snow.  Mum was collapsed on the floor as I ripped the sleeping bag
off the backpack.  I got mum into it after removing her boots and coat.  I
set about setting up the tent in the back of the cave where there was just
enough flat room sideways.

   The storm was raging outside, making it impossible to go back in the
dark for the other backpack.  Instead I went out looking for dead branches
that had fallen under trees and still relatively dry.  I would find dry
mulch under trees and bushes as I groped around in the snow feeling for
their shapes.

   Two hours later I had a small fire going to heat our meal.  We had been
doing this sort of thing since I was very young so our survival skills were
passable from the times we first went out roughing it with dad.

   We knew there could be no rescue till the weather abated.  We had an
excellent chance now we were in the cave.  We had another two day's food...
Four if we rationed.  Surly the weather would abate by then?  The immediate
problem was nearly half our food was in the other backpack two hours away
up the trail.

   At least we had the tent with the sleeping bag.  I couldn't find enough
dead wood to keep the fire going for long.  Well I wasn't sure if we would
gas ourselves with fumes if we did, as there was only the cave entrance to
let air in and build the fire in.

   After we had eaten then designated a corner to use as a toilet we
removed our boots and coats, wiggling into the sleeping bag together.  Mum
was a bit shorter than I at five ten being around one twenty pounds of slim
bony build.  We spooned together as I wrapped my arms around her as she
zipped up the sleeping bag with our coats spread over us.

   There was no getting round it, where could I put my hands but around her
front.  Well the most natural place was on her breasts as she rested her
head on my inside arm as a pillow under her neck, holding her upper body
against me as we were bloody freezing.  Despite myself I went to sleep.

   When I woke realising where I was, I had mum still in my arms amazed we
were as warm as toast together.  Then I became aware mum was sobbing
silently.

   I squeezed her breasts as I was still holding them as if my hands were
glued there.  Mum stiffened realising I was awake saying.  "Sorry James, I
didn't mean to wake you." I smiled saying.  "That's all right darling I
slept like a log, we kept each other warm."

   Mum began crying again as I tried to comfort her.  "It's all right Mum,
we'll get through this." I encouraged.  Mum sobbed harder as I held her
tightly saying.  "Come on darling, it's not as bad as it seems."

   We were quite for a minute as she quietened in my arms.  "I thought you
were your father in behind me with your hard on." I was taken back
realising what she had said.  I also realised I had a hard on which was
sticking out in my pants pressing against her clothed bum.

   Without thinking I said.  "I wish I was." Mum stiffened, then she slowly
relax.  She must have felt the heat from my blushing as she lay in my arms
quietly saying nothing.

   "I've got to pee." She finally said.  As much as I wanted to go as well
I wanted to lay there with her against my body.  She unzipped the bag as I
felt the cold air surround me.  'Fuck'.  I pulled the bag around me as I
watched her in the light of the torch slip her boots then coat on. 
Unzipping the tent, scrambling out.

   Listening to her peeing behind the tent in the corner.  "Dam that's
bloody freezing James." She complained as I heard her zip up her pants.  It
wasn't often she cursed so it must be bloody freezing out.

   Cursing my full bladder as I got out in the dark finding my boots then
coat over the sleeping bag putting it on as mum crawled into the tent
leaving the light on as she fumbled in the backpack as I went round the
back to drain my bladder.  'Fuck she was right, it was bloody freezing.'

   There was enough dry moss to light a fire to make breakfast of rolled
oats in the billy-can.  It was welcome as I felt it warming my insides as
we ate.  We had the fire set in the entrance.  As soon as the porridge
boiled I put the fire out to save the wood.

   We were shocked to see as we went outside into the storm to collect more
fire wood, the snow was over two feet deep and still falling heavily.  I
looked at mum.  "I'll have to go for the other back pack or we'll never get
it." Mum looked at me with her sad eyes.  She knew I was right.  If we
didn't get the rest of the food we might run out and die of cold.

   Looking up at the black sky.  It was hard to tell it was daylight even.
I took the torch from mum's hand as I looked at her then flung my arms
around her kissing her passionately as I had never done before, feeling her
lips respond to mine.  I reluctantly parted as I smiled at her.  Things had
changed.

   I set off up the trail.  Two feet of snow, almost crutch deep was going
to be hard to walk through.  I knew it was going to take three times as
long to reach the backpack being up hill.

   I won't bore you with the details of that journey but as you can imagine
it was the hardest thing I had ever done.  It took me nearly five hours to
reach that dam tree where we left the backpack under, in front of the giant
egg shape rock.  I was wet through to the skin and freezing as I started
the return journey.  At first it was easy as I was wading through my own
furrow I had made in the snow on the way up.

   Then even though I could see where I had been, it didn't seem as easy as
the backpack continually tipped me over as I crawled through and over the
higher soft drifts of snow.  It was a super human effort believe me.

   I was lucky I had a very good memory.  I could visualise where I was
from the trees visible in the still falling snow.  I knew I was getting
weaker fast.  I was about an hour away from the cave at this rate as it was
just down the hill a little.

   I was using the torch as what light had gone.  I knew it was well after
five and pitch black.  I only had a few hundred yards to go and my legs
refused to work as I breathed deeply knowing if I stopped I wouldn't make
it.  I would die within sight of my goal.

   With super human effort, I forced my frozen numb body to work as I
slowly forced it to go for the last bit off the trail to the cave entrance.

   I could not believe it.  The cave entrance was four feet deep up to my
armpits as I called out for mum to help me.

   Finally I felt a gloved hand in the darkness grab mine dragging me into
the entrance.  I was so cold and exhausted I could hardly move as I felt
the backpack being removed.  I felt so light without it as I realised mum
was pulling me as I crawled into the tent then felt her removing my wet
clothes.

   I don't remember much next.  I remember I was in the sleeping bag with
mum's hot body on mine, dam she was so hot.  I remember her slapping and
screaming at me as I tried to concentrate and not go to sleep.  I remember
feeling heat in my groin as mum's hot body was laying on mine.

   I smile these days as I remember her rubbing my body with hers.  I smile
wider as I realised she had my rising penis in her hands getting me excited
as she rubbed it vigorously as I remember getting hard.  And I will never
forget the feeling as she slid me inside her body working up and down on
me.

   I could feel the warmth slowly radiating out from my groin.  I had died
and gone to heaven as I felt her shuddering through climax after climax as
she worked up and down on my body.  I can remember her calling my name
through the fog as I exploded into her body hard.

   There was no way I was going to die and leave this beautiful creature on
her own as dad had done.  I closed my eyes going to sleep.  She was
slapping me awake.  "Come on James, keep the circulation going, fuck me
James fuck your mother James, come on boy fuck your mother like you always
wanted to.  Come on big boy shove it up me and fuck my like a man.  Come on
boy fuck your mother like you always wanted to.  Stick it in me and make me
scream.  Come on James be a man and fuck me good like I like it."

   She was squeezing me hard again as I was rising again.  I felt the cold
air between us as she lifted her body guiding me into her again.  Dam she
felt so wonderful as I felt myself sliding into her hot velvet body as I
heard myself groan with pleasure.

   "Come on James fuck a baby into me.  Do it boy, fuck the shit out of me.
Give me your baby James come on boy you can do it, oh fuck James that's so
fucken big.  Bigger than your father, shove it into me boy, come on, be a
man and fuck your mother like she needs fucken."

   I tell you I don't know what got into me as I rolled mum over in the
bag, as tired as I was, I was between her legs fucking the shit out of her.
How did she know I wanted to fuck her.  She knew all the time I wanted her
like I wanted no other woman.

   She was groaning through a climax as I began driving harder and harder
as she squealed and screamed through climax after climax till I blew my
load into her deep.

   She clung to me fiercely till we relaxed together.  Mum was crying as
she held me tightly.  I held her until I was too heavy for her then I
spooned into her back as she turned me over.

   I felt her put my penis in between her crutch then arrange the coats and
clothes with the other bag open like a blanket over us as she zipped up the
sleeping bag.

   I remember waking as I felt I had an erection.  Mum was squeezing my
head through her legs.  "You awake James?" "Yes Mum." "You all right Son?"
I hugged her tightly.  She began to cry.

   It was some time later as I was listening to the storm outside when mum
said.  "I thought I was going to loose you." We were quite for a while
again as I guessed she was still crying silently.

   "You brought me back Mum, you really did.  I just wanted to go to sleep
forever." She giggled.  I knew she was happy as she only giggled when she
was.

   I held her tighter as I felt myself getting harder between her legs.  I
felt my head sliding into her as she arched her back.  "Mum?" I queried. 
She said nothing as I hugged her tighter.  I began to press then ease. 
That went on till I was fully inside spooned into her completely.

   I groaned as I felt her body ripple around me.  "James move it in and
out a little." I did, I needn't be asked again as I worked slowly back and
forward.  "That's perfect." She groaned as I slid about half way out then
back in.

   Mum was shuddering as I stroked her slowly.  "A little faster James, not
too much." I was squeezing her breasts now as her nipples were rock hard
under my fingers.  "Am I your first?" I was surprised at the question. 
"Yes Mum." Mum shuddered as I felt her tighten around my shaft in climax. I
know I'm not experienced but she had enough of them on me last night for me
to work it out.

   "Oh mum." I groaned and began thrusting into my mother's body.  She
groaned and moaned continuously till I exploded into her panting hard along
with her.  I didn't think women could have continuous climaxes.  Well mum
just proved that didn't she.

   I realised the storm was still raging outside.  Funny I hadn't taken any
notice till now.  It didn't seem as loud as it was before as we pulled our
trousers, jumpers, coats and boots on.  In mum's case she had to pull up
her Long Johns after wiping herself then me with a hand towel.

   I looked at my watch seeing it was after ten.  It should have been
lighter than that.  I rose slowly following mum out of the tent as she
helped me.  I needed to empty my bowel first.  I was busting.

   Mum held my hand to steady me while I did my business.  It took me ages
to wipe my bum.  By the time I got my pants back up my crutch and upper
legs were bloody freezing.

   I made my way round the tent to the entrance.  I didn't have the torch.
Mum was going after me.  I felt around finding the snow was packed to the
entrance roof.

   By then mum was finished and beside me at the entrance as I said.  "I
think we should poke a hole through with a branch to let air in." I was too
week but mum had been out in the storm while I was away yesterday
collecting firewood from beneath the trees on the valley sides.  Stacking
it all upright on one side of the cave wall.

   She picked the longest one, poking it up high into the snow where the
roof finished.  To my relief the snow fell away leaving a hole which mum
pushed and prodded larger as the noise of the storm got louder and louder.
It was definitely lighter outside as mum poked the hole bigger as the snow
seemed to fall away outside.

   We felt it was safe to light a fire.  Mum was bush smart, laying the
shorter branches up against the wall to dry.  She had recovered a fair bit
of moss and leaf litter as well.  Mum set about lighting the fire with the
lighter.

   Soon there was a fire warming the chill from our bones as we boiled the
billy with a mug of rolled oats, our ration for the day.  Plus a billy full
of snow melting down for drinking water.  We didn't let the fire burn as we
didn't know how long the storm would last.  We stacked some of the wet wood
over the remaining coals to dry out.

   Retiring to the tent as soon as the warmth of the fire died.  Mum
unpacked my backpack laying out the remaining dry clothes in the tent with
hers.  We decided to change over sleeping bags as my single was a little
warmer than hers the one we were using.  Hers and dads were the same which
could be zipped together around the outside edge.  Where mine only had a
zip down the middle three quarter way and far better insulated.

   We both wore double socks plus trousers and jumpers under our coats in
the tent plus we half used our sleeping bags as we sat back against our
back packs eating half an energy bar each.

   Stripping down to our socks and underwear then squeezed into the one
sleeping bag together as mum arranged the coats and clothes over us.  I
sighed contented as mum snuggled back up spooning into me as we placed our
feet together to keep them warm as I cupped her breasts as she lay her head
on my arm, I went to sleep.

   I don't know what time it was when I woke up but it was still pitch dark
in the cave.  Either it was dark outside or the hole had blocked up in the
entrance again.  The wind was blowing in from that direction and piling up
against the entrance in a drift.  I wasn't too worried as the cave was big
enough to hold plenty of air.

   I awoke again.  It was quieter, either the storm was abating or the snow
drift building in front of the entrance was much thicker.  Mum was asleep
so I closed my eyes.  I felt at piece.

   Mum woke me next, She was wiggling in my arms.  I didn't realise what
she was doing until she arched her back lifting as I felt her underwear
slide down.  Then I felt her hand on my erection sticking out of my fly.

   I know I had never been with a woman before this week but feeling mum's
bum nestle back against my erection was pure heaven.  "Stick it between my
legs James.  Get it slippery." To me that meant one thing we were going
again as I felt her hand handle my head pushing it down in between her legs
as I felt my head rub over her vulva.  I groaned as mum giggled as I
squeezed her breasts in my hands.

   We seem to get slippery quite quickly.  Mum was arching her back so I
could get in easier as she lifted more I felt my head pushing open her
labia lips as she made a gurgling noise in her throat.

   I knew what to do now.  I began pressing and relaxing till I was
slippery enough to slide in.  "God Mum that feels fantastic." As I felt her
squeeze my head with her muscles.  After a few strokes I was fully inside
pushing against her bum firmly as she pushed back against my crutch.

   It wasn't long and mum was bucking and screwing her hips in my lap as I
drove in and out in short little thrusts as mum shuddered and groaned.  Dam
what a woman.  This was nothing like I understood happened while a couple
had sex.  I understood they had a climax each then that was it.

   Well that was how it was with me.  It was over when I climaxed.  My
erection went slack, well a little and that was it.  But mum was having
climaxes nearly all the time on me.  I felt real special as I was sure this
was not normal.

   Mum didn't seem to care as she shuddered through another climax.  She
seemed to like it this way spooned together than face to face.  Me, I
didn't care as she made me feel so dam good as I shuddered through another
climax.

   Another day had gone when we woke.  The dam storm was still raging
outside as mum poked the entrance hole wider so we could have a fire to
heat our meal.  We only had two days of rationed food left.  The bad news
the firewood would run out about then.

   We stayed wrapped up together in the sleeping bag.  Even though we
didn't have sex keeping our underwear up.  I remember in the afternoon
getting mum excited as I had slipped my right hand down into her long
john's.  Mum somehow hooked her toes behind my legs shuddering and groaning
as I learnt about her clitoris and how to make her cum with my fingers.

   I was like a kid with a new toy.  That started a full blown sex session.
Mum just came and came as I pushed my erection in and out of her as my
fingers worked her sensitive little button as well.  Dam she came so hard
squeezing my erection tightly till I exploded strongly into her.  We both
slept like logs that night.

   The next day we were both awake early.  Something was wrong.  "The storm
James it's not as strong." That was mum sounding excited.  It indeed
sounded weaker, even though the hole at the entrance was blocked again.

   We dressed with enthusiasm as mum poked the hole into the top of the
entrance again.  It was harder this time as the snow was deeper.  It was
lighter outside and the wind was definitely dying.  It was still snowing,
less than half as before.

   Our hopes were rising as we set a fire to cook our breakfast and melt
snow for drinking water.  By that night our hopes were dashed as the wind
was stronger and the snow heavier.

   We made love again that night.  Mum and I moaned and groaned through my
climax as mum had three.  The sleeping bag was so restrictive we couldn't
play round much, like change positions.  I didn't mind as I was still weak
from my near death experience.  By the time I climaxed satisfying myself
and mum I was exhausted again.

   When I woke it seemed colder as mum moved unzipping the bag as she had
to pee.  It took some time to realise there was no noise outside.  Mum
poked the entrance hole into the snow with the branch, making it bigger to
let fresh air in.

   It was still overcast with weak occasional sunshine outside at the
moment as mum made the hole as big as she could.  Our spirits were high
seeing the storm had stopped.  We ate our remaining food.  Mum laid the
branch down on the snow entrance climbing up to look through the hole.

   "Everything is covered with snow out there James." She looked around at
me adding, "we can't walk out."

   I wasn't upset at the news as it would take me two days to walk out in
my present condition, so that was out of the question.  But we were out of
food now.

   That problem was solved mid afternoon in the form of an aero engine.  A
helicopter was out looking for us.  I tell you that raised our spirits. 
Mum was frantically climbing the branch digging the hole bigger with her
hand as she worked her way up on the snow.  Then she disappeared as I heard
her scream then the noise of the helicopter got louder.

   It was almost overhead outside now as the down draft wash blew snow into
the cave through the hole.  I didn't understand what was happening.  Then
to my disappointment the helicopter moved away till I couldn't hear it any
more.

   I could hear mum laughing outside so I was happy.  All she had to do was
dig her way back into the cave now.  They knew we were alive, making the
cave as the storm front had hit.  I supposed they would have hikers and
campers all over the national park to find as there was a few cars in the
long term car-park section with ours.

   Hearing mum working outside as she dug her way into the cave.  I could
hear she had a shovel of some description as they must have dropped it from
the helicopter.

   Yes mum had a long handle shovel.  It wasn't a snow shovel but a
workman's spade type shovel.  I could hear mum talking to herself as I saw
the snow start to move on my side.  Ten minutes later the snow collapsed as
mum broke through then forced her way over the top of the remaining heap
grinning at me then disappeared back outside.

   A few minutes later mum returned throwing a bag over the remaining heap
into the cave at my feet.  I lent down untying the string to see ration
packs, heaps of them.  The next half hour was taken up eating heat pack
meals.  We had one each then shared a second.  There was bottled water in
the pack plus energy bars with other energy food in the form of packet
soup.

   There was photocopy instructions on surviving in storms with hints and
tips mainly if you were caught out in the elements.  There was a scrawled
note in texter.  'Help will be a day or two.  The helicopter will pick us
up one at a time, with our gear.  We were to clear a landing pad out on the
trail where there was an open flat of no trees as soon as possible.  The
whole park would be isolated for at least another week or more.'

   It was great to get hot food into us.  We were suddenly rejuvenated. 
Mum set to work digging up the cave path to the trail where there was a
clearing.  It was about two hundred or more yards.  The drifts were four
and five foot deep in places.  Higher against the rock faces and trees.

   I took over when mum was tired.  I didn't last long before mum had the
shovel again.  By dark we had made it up to the trail where the was a flat.

   That night making love with Mother was so beautiful.  I think we both
realised this would be our last time.  We were both exhausted as mum had
two climaxes to my one before we both fell asleep as I was still inside
her.

   The next morning it was roast beef and baked veggies for breakfast. 
That felt dam good as it went down.  We were out at daylight working away
clearing the landing pad.  Thirty feet in diameter was the instructions.

   As soon as we finished we went to the cave packing our gear as we ate
another meal after we had finished.  We had four left, one each for tonight
and tomorrow.  The helicopter flew over us on his way back to base. 
Checking if we had completed the site.  He waved seeing us working as he
headed down the mountain.

   It was almost dark when we heard the helicopter coming back up the
mountain.  We rushed out to the landing site just as the pilot landed.  I
was to go first because of my fatigued condition after the ordeal I had
been through.  Mum was going to fight me if I didn't go first.

   The chopper was one of those light weight two seater for observing the
wild life in the park.  I had my pack between my legs.  On the ten minute
ride back to the ranger station the pilot informed me of the disaster which
had befallen the park.  They had stranded walkers all over the place.  Some
were feared lost, caught out in the storm.  I didn't know the ranger pilot
but he knew of my father's death up on the ridge before he moved to this
park.

   Before I knew it we were landing at the station.  I was escorted inside
as the helicopter took off again going back to get mum.  The bunk room was
open as there were about a dozen people housed there, all visiting
survivors I soon discovered.

   I was so glad of a shower and shave as I sorted through my best clothes.
I was washing my dirty wet clothes when mum came in looking like a
survivor. She went straight into the shower after dumping her gear on the
bottom bunk as I had taken the top in a vacant corner.

   They all had stories to tell.  Similar to our own.  Being caught out in
the open heading for shelter cabins on the trails for just such situations.
There were three parties unaccounted for still out there.

   The road into the park was blocked for most of the way.  The word was
the snowplough was making its way up to us with detours to make on the way.

   They were trying to make a food delivery to the park by air soon.  We
were lucky we had underground power and phone into the ranger station.

   Mum was back to her old self.  After her shower.  We washed our clothes
and dried them in the dryers.  They had the facilities there at the park
for fire fighting in the summer months where large numbers needed
accommodation.

   It was dinnertime as some of the women had taken charge.  Mum and I were
accepted into the ranks as we sat eating unfrozen hamburger meat with
mashed potatoes.

   We were updated by the head ranger after we had eaten, informing us of
the situation in the park.  They had found one group today safe in one of
the cabins, dropping food and shovels to them.  There were still two groups
unaccounted for.  Hope was fading but they wouldn't give up.

   Volunteers were sought to mount search parties.  Mum had her hand up
first as she kept mine down.  We had an argument in front of everyone till
mum told them what I had done to get the remaining backpack for the food. I
was grounded by the head ranger.

   I was not happy.  The ranger smiled assuring me there was plenty to do
around the station.  We went to bed early as we slept soundly.  We were
woken at seven thirty for breakfast.  We were on ranger time now.  I was to
wash and dry our remaining set of clothes.  Mum went out with one of the
four wheel drive search parties.

   I had finished my laundry chores, I wandered into the ranger office to
see how things were progressing and ask for a job.  The helicopter was
landing with the last of the trapped party they found yesterday on its
little special pad in front of its shed out the back.

   I was given the job of assisting the pilot to push his machine inside
the shed where he refueled and checking the oil and stuff.

   We pushed it back outside when he looked at me saying.  "Your not going
flying like that are you?" I looked at him as he said.  "Get your coat and
boots.  The overalls are there hanging up and the helmet is there." As he
pointed to the shelves and lockers.

   I raced off to get my coat and gloves.  I had a beanie on which I used
under the helmet as the pilot gave me a pair of binoculars.  I was part of
the search team from the air.  The pilot was given a marked map and we took
off.  It was freezing up there but I didn't feel a thing.

   We had refueled twice now in the middle of the afternoon.  We were at
the furthest point of our search pattern, flying up a gully when something
caught my eye.  I didn't know what it was as it was almost out of my vision
in the corner.

   "Stop." I commanded the pilot.  "Something flashed." We had had a number
of false sightings.  This was different.  "No don't turn, go back.  Or I
will loose it."

   The pilot backed the machine heading straight back where I pointed. 
"There." I pointed excitedly to our right on the sunny side of the gully.
We had been up and down this one a number of times without seeing anything.
The pilot headed in.  It was flashing again.  "It's a signalling mirror."
The pilot sounded excited as we drew closer.  "I can see a hand waving." I
called excitedly looking through the binoculars.

   The pilot went in as close as he dare.  He pointed to a spot where the
trees were thin as he maneuvered in to set me down.  I slipped the helmet
off then grabbing a shovel and a bag of food.  I stepped off the landing
skid into the snow up to my armpits.  I looked up as the pilot climbed
above the tree tops as I crawled towards the signaler.

   It took me half an hour to make the little gully.  I could see
immediately all the lower saplings were stripped from the surrounding
trees. How had I missed that.

   I called out.  I heard a faint voice as I could see the mirror waving
about.  I crawled to the hole holding the hand asking.  "How many of you?"
"Three." Was the reply.  "Hold on, were getting help." "Ones bad." Was the
weak reply.  I signaled to the helicopter with three waves of my arm with a
signal one was hurt.

   He flew off.  I made the hole in the shelter bigger handing through the
sack as I made my way back to the clearing starting work.  Half an hour
later the chopper was back with a man climbing down a rope with a big pack
and snow shovel.

   Now there were two of us digging a landing pad out of the snow as we
worked furiously.  There was a sick man to get out and it would be dark in
an hour or so.

   By the time the copter was back with another man with his kit we had the
pad cleared.  The second man had a chainsaw.  He made short work of a
couple of trees and the chopper landed.  We struggled with the sick man
putting him aboard the chopper then flown back to base.

   The hikers had built a snow shelter beneath a tree, covered and lined
from the surrounding tree branches they could break off.  The two rangers
were going to stay with the men overnight then fly them out first thing.

   I was picked up in half an hour by the chopper, very happy to be flying
back to a nice warm meal and a bunk bed above mum.  We of course behaved
ourselves as we were mother and son making an annual pilgrimage back to the
site where dad had died.

   Mum was in the kitchen helping with the evening meal when I arrived
back. I learnt later the chopper pilot was breaking every rule in the book
flying after sundown.  "Well out here so what." Was his comment as he
grinned at me.

   The overall mood was somber at dinner that night in the bunk room, there
were still two missing walkers.

   We spent the next two days out looking for them.  Everyone was wet and
tired.  The snowplough was almost to the park where a fresh crew of rangers
would take over.  They were almost out of aero fuel so the copter was
grounded till a delivery was made and a service done.

   They would not find the missing hiker's bodies till the thaw. 
Apparently they didn't have the survival skills or quality gear for camping
out at such a time of year so far from permanent shelter.  Even if they had
survived the blizzard they didn't carry the food to last till rescue.

   We were reluctant to leave.  We had arranged to make the trip back next
year for a memorial service for those who died and those who nearly.  We
definitely had a whole new load of friends.

   Mum and I were quite on the way home.  We hardly spoke a word.  Our
little holiday was over.  I was going to go back to college and mum would
go back to work.  We had some exciting stories to tell with some sad ones
plus some we would never.

   The closer we got to home the more I realised it was over and we were
back to mother and son.  As we unpacked the car my heart wasn't in it.  We
had brought hamburgers down the road for dinner.  We sat quietly as we ate
not saying anything.  There was nothing to say.  Welcome back to the real
world.

   We had our showers separately as mum was busy in the kitchen then got
ready for bed while mum was in the shower.  I turned the light out as I lay
there listening to her.  We were back to our old routine.

   I heard mum finish up in the bathroom turning the light out heading into
her room.

   Things were quite for a minute then I heard her coming down the hall. 
"James where the hell are you.  If you think I'm going to sleep on my own
after the last fortnight, you've got another think coming.  Get that sexy
ass of yours in here this instant."



   I dashed into the hallway as I stripped my Pj's off as I went into her
arms.  I scooped her up as I carried her into her bedroom.

   I remember her squealing with delight as I threw her on the bed jumping
on top of her as she reached down for my erection centering me as she
rubbed me slippery as I pushed into her wet warm body.  "Oh fuck Jamie. 
I've missed that wonderful cock of yours.  Fuck me darling, fuck me
forever."

   Mum groaned and moaned through our first climax.  I couldn't tell how
many climaxes she had as they were blurred together as I pounded into her
short and sharp like she liked.  We were tired that first night after our
long drive.  I know I came into her three times.  How many climaxes she had
I couldn't count as she screamed the house down continuously.

   We spent the next two days in bed.  When she was too sore up the front
She took me up the back till I was too sore.  So she sucked me off till we
had to stop as I couldn't take any more.

   Reluctantly I went back to college.  Mum rang me every night to say
goodnight.  I was getting back into the collage routine again.  I missed
her so much.

   I had been back three weeks when mum dropped the bombshell.  "James I
haven't had my period.  I'm pregnant." Well there was silence at my end of
the phone as the impact of her statement washed over me.

   "Well." I said finally.  "I distinctly remember you telling me to fuck a
baby into you at one stage." She laughed saying.  "Yes I did didn't I and
darling it looks like you did."

   We both laughed, then we got serious.  "How do you feel James?" I
grinned laughing.  "Mum that's wonderful.  Your thirty eight, how do you
feel about it?" She whispered back.  "Darling I'm so happy.  I want to be
with you." I want to sell the house and move up there with you.  We will
get a flat close to the college and I'll find a job." "Mum I'm so happy."

   Well that's how it happened.  Mum had little Dennis junior.  We named
him after his grandfather.  Mum had found a good job up till the baby was
almost born.  Then she became a housewife for the second time.

   The next anniversary we were back at the National park for dad's
memorial.  We didn't take young Dennis Junior on such a dangerous walk but
we took a photo of the three of us together throwing it over the ledge so
dad could see his new grandchild.

   The previous summer the rangers had built a shelter up on the north
western meadow.  It was more like a dugout lined with logs then filled
over. It was a change to camp out of the continuous bitter wind on the side
of the mountain.

   Yes we camped in the glacier cave on the way up and the way down.  Yes I
fucked the shit out of mum and yes I fucked another baby into her.

   They erected a plaque in the ranger station car park for the first
anniversary of the storm.  It was constructed from a large granite rock
from the mountain.  Everyone's name that had died in the park was listed.
There is six all told.  Dad has plenty of company.

   We will be back again next year to show him a picture of his
granddaughter.  That will be the last for a while.  When the children are
older mum and I will bring them up to meet their grandfather.  We know he
will like that.


   *