In the picture below, we took our first break in an area just to the left of the group shot. After our break, we continued our trek to the top and this is when we experienced our first near avalanche. Fortunately, we were not in serious danger, but just hearing the loud KABOOM from the snow collapsing under our feet and then feeling the snow evaporate below my own feet, made me realize how powerless and vulnerable I am to the conditions in the mountains.