Love on the Slopes Page #4

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Right. You don't need

anyone slowing you down.

Exactly.

How's this?

Do I look like one of

your happy photographs yet?

Nearly.

You ready

to face your fears?

At least I look like I am.

Are these the shoes?

These are the shoes.

Are there any other colors?

No.

Okay, now, you want

to be aware of everything

that's underneath you

at all times.

'Kay? Keep your weight

on your feet,

your arms straight.

Kind of like this--

my arms are straight...

and I go up,

push up...

You're a pro at this.

Are you sure

you're not a guide?

[chuckles]

That kind of charm is not

gonna get you off the hook.

Figured I'd try.

[Cole laughs]

Oh! I'm stuck.

No, you're fine.

Focus on your feet.

Don't look down.

My feet are down!

Where am I supposed to look?

Focus on your footholds.

Exactly.

Anticipate the next two moves.

I anticipate

I'm gonna fall.

You're not

gonna fall.

There's about 50% chance

that I will.

You're just psyching

yourself out.

You wanna keep your grip relaxed

and breathe.

[exhales deeply]

Good!

That's right.

So how long have

you been taking photos?

Ah, since

I was young.

You're really good at it.

Thanks.

You know,

life never really stops moving.

Every time I go into nature,

it seems like

everything is different.

Waves are always rolling,

leaves are always growing...

nothing stays the same.

I guess that's my way

of holding onto a moment

and capturing it.

That's really beautiful.

I never thought about nature

that way.

Well, stick with me, kid.

You may just learn

a few things.

Is that a promise?

[laughs]

Oh, hey!

Yeah.

We're at the top!

Did you distract me

on purpose?

Did it work?

How do we get down?

Oh, you just have to let go.

No! I-I can't let go.

I'm gonna fall!

Falling is a part of climbing.

Every climber falls.

Does that make sense?

You're okay.

That's still yet

to be determined.

One, two, three--

jump.

[he chuckles]

[yelps, giddy]

You're going faster!

[laughing]

[panting heavily]

[laughs]

That was fun!

Yeah!

It was really fun.

Thanks, Coach.

Now you can tell Lord Barton

you passed the test.

Tomorrow, we're gonna

start your real training.

Yeah?

But, first...

you help me.

[]

"Taylor Youth"?

Is that you?

It's a charity

I started a few years ago,

to raise money

for underprivileged kids.

Trips and gear can

be pretty expensive.

This gives them a chance

to come to Ridgeline

and practice

winter sports for free.

That's really nice.

I got the impression,

though,

that you didn't want

to do a meet-and-greet?

-I don't really...

-[laughs]

...But 50%

of the profits

made during Winter Walk

goes to The Taylor

Youth Foundation.

Right now,

we're able to send

about ten kids each year

to winter camps.

I'd like that number

to go higher, so...

If doing a meet-and-greet

can help, then...

Well, then

we better get stapling.

And then

let's have lunch.

[Alex]:

I will have the turkey burger

with no bun,

no cheese, no bacon,

no mushrooms or onions...

just plai--

is it organic?

It doesn't matter.

I'll have a cheeseburger,

all dressed. Please.

Thank you.

So... you're a copy editor?

Yep.

For seven years.

It's a good job.

It pays well

and it's stable.

But?

Don't get me wrong,

I'm very grateful

to have my job, but...

It just makes things

a little difficult

when my boss

only sees me one way.

So you feel like

you have to prove yourself?

Let's just say

that no one expects me

to be up here,

doing extreme sports.

Okay.

And what do you think?

They're probably right.

[laughing]

Well, tomorrow,

we're going to be hiking

the woods of Ridgeline.

We'll prove that you're

supposed to be here.

Do you really think that?

No.

But I guess we'll find out.

[both laughing]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

This is your morning

wake-up call.

Cole?

What time is it?

Time to face your fears.

I'm pretty sure

I just fell asleep.

And I'm pretty sure the wild

waits for no woman.

I'll meet you downstairs.

Okay, okay, okay.

I'm getting up, I'm getting up.

Morning, sunshine.

Took you long enough.

Did I mention that

it's, like, five miles

to my middle-of-

nowhere cabin?

Okay, grumpy.

Let's get you

some coffee.

And some breakfast,

please.

Well, funny you

should mention that.

That's exactly

where we're going.

Great.

[Alex sighs wearily]

I thought you said we were

going for breakfast?

Patience, my friend.

Patience has rarely

been my friend.

See? That's your

problem right there.

You live with

a city mentality

where everything needs

to happen instantly.

You need to stop

and smell the pine trees.

Everything that matters

is right here,

in this moment.

You just

have to breathe.

I don't think that's

a city mentality,

I think that's

just our world.

Social media has

changed everything.

Ahh... ho, ho.

Social media.

Where everyone

can see your status,

and it's none

of their business.

I try to stay as far

away from that stuff

as possible.

You know, I actually

think you could have

quite the lucrative career,

if you had more of

an online presence.

I mean, not that

you're not successful,

and not that I know

if you have a social media page

or not, or anything.

Were you Googling me?

No. I-I-- No. I...

Maybe just...

Maybe a little bit.

Right.

I do have a website

but it's for my work,

not my personal life.

My photos

speak for themselves.

I take pictures

because I have to.

That's how I feel

about writing.

When I don't write,

I feel empty.

You know, when I was little,

I used to write

all these short stories

about all the amazing

places I was gonna visit.

Oh, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Where to?

Uh... all over.

It doesn't really matter.

I've never been to any of them.

I guess life and fear

just kinda got in the way.

Well, look at you now.

Facing those fears.

Pretty soon,

you'll be unstoppable.

Well, I don't know

about that.

Do you have to walk so fast?

Oh, wow! [gasping]

Look! Such

a beautiful waterfall!

Keep moving.

We're going

all the way up there.

You don't want

to stop and look?

No?

[Cole]:
Let's keep going.

It's gonna get icy.

Okay.

There has to be

another way across.

No, this is the only way

to get to where we're going.

[Alex]:
Do you know

how many people fall

from extreme heights

every single year?

I do! I looked it up.

I'm sure you did.

But you can do it.

I'll be with you

every step of the way.

Come on.

Come on. Yeah!

That's right!

[Alex]:
Oh...

See? You're doing great!

I bet you say that

to everyone.

You're right.

That's kinda my shtick,

actually.

You seem like a guy

who would have a shtick.

I do?

No. Not at all.

I'm just talking

to distract myself

from the terror I feel

and the sudden desire I have

to knock myself out

with my shoe.

You're learning fast.

-[yelps]

-Oh! You okay?

[panting]

Can we please turn around now?

You're almost there.

You got just

a few more steps to do.

[steadying breaths]

You got this!

Yeah!

[relieved gasp]

Attagirl.

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