Page 33 - 2024-2025 Creative Writing

An Unforgettable Mountain Adventure

When I was 12 years old, my family and I went on a hiking trip to the mountains. It had been our

family tradition to hike the mountain every year on the 1st of July, as it’s my sister’s birthday. Little did

we know, this trip would be our last — and the most unforgettable one.

We woke up early that morning, packed our gear, and set off. By 7:30 a.m., we had reached the

mountain’s base and eagerly began our hike. The weather was cool and refreshing, and the first few

hours of the hike went smoothly.

After about four hours of climbing, exhaustion started to set in. We decided to take a break, sitting on

some large rocks while enjoying the sandwiches we had packed. Re-energized, we continued our

journey, hoping to reach a better viewpoint before sunset.

However, things took a strange turn after we crossed a small hill. We realized we were lost. Every

path we tried seemed unfamiliar, and the forest around us grew eerily silent. Just when panic was

beginning to creep in, we spotted a small, isolated white house in the distance. Relieved, we hurried

toward it, hoping to get directions.

We knocked on the door, but there was no answer. As we turned to leave, we suddenly heard a

chilling voice from inside calling, “Here… here…” Startled, we cautiously entered the house. An old

woman was sitting by the fireplace, boiling a pot of tea. Despite her unsettling appearance, she invited

us in and offered us tea. Grateful for the hospitality, we accepted.

But the moment we took a sip, we were stunned. The tea was ice-cold, even though we had clearly

seen it boiling over the fire just moments before. A sense of dread washed over us, and without a word,

we quickly gathered our things and left the house.

Not far from the house, we saw a man riding a horse. Desperately, we waved him down and explained

that we were lost. He silently nodded and guided us back to the trail leading to our parked car.

To this day, we still wonder whether the old woman was human or something… supernatural. Since

that eerie encounter, we have never returned to the mountains on July 1st — ending a tradition that

had once been so special to our family.

Z.Bilegbayar 9B