In early September, we embarked on a vacation trip with the lofty goal of conquering the imposing snow-covered giant, Mount Baker, standing tall at 10,786 feet at its most technical time. I approached it with casual enthusiasm one might have for trying out a new sport at the beach. My initial aim was simply to acquaint myself with the world of snow-clad peaks. Little did I know that our expedition would turn into a technical climbing adventure, demanding both ascent and descent on a daunting 200 to 300-foot, 35-40 degree slope of translucent ice and rock combo. Recent hot weather had done no favors to the precarious Roman Wall, with only a single successful summit recorded in the past two weeks. The words of our guide, Don, still echo in my ears: “Just don’t fall.”