Frozen sign
Only 2.3 miles from the peak but still a world away. Without goggles it was very difficult to see since both the wind and snow started to kick up. At times I couldn't see 3-4 feet in front of me. As a result, I increased my pace, but Chad started to slow down. At the bottom of some switchbacks he told me to go ahead and he would follow right behind me after a quick rest. I made it to the sign you see below, but I never saw Chad again until I got off the mountain.