She ignored the question as the boardwalk started to get swallowed up by the earth until it completely disappeared. All of a sudden, a coppery rusty smell took over the air. Loose charcoal had replaced the dry grey dusty ground and it almost felt like we were standing on a different planet. Wind swept up some of the finer loose charcoal grazing across my exposed legs like crushed glass. It only took another few steps before I was dwarfed under a sheer rock face that stretched up high to touch the sky.

So, yup, a lot bigger than it looked. Maybe we do need a rope. There probably should have been some planning and research done rather than just turning up.

Yeah, and where is everybody? Where did all the hikers go? Where’s Alex? Is there a secret way through the mountains?

“This way, dickhead,” Alex’s German accent floated down from the side.

There was no secret door, but a rocky pathway was hiding behind a huge boulder. I could feel the corners of my lips widening, the adrenaline was just kick-starting into action.

Here we go, the quest is about to begin.

The first few metres were deceiving, luring me into a false sense of security—it was an easy climb for the first fifty metres, but then the incline suddenly become steeper. The ground loosened and little stones rolled around under my feet. Before I could think, tiny sharp stones were being embedded into my hands and knees, Alex was laughing but pain shot through from the moment the ground gave way.

“Maybe you should have got better footwear?”

That was her response to seeing me hit the ground. Fifty metres in and blood had already been spilled. It took a little while to pick all the little stones out, but they left indents and burning sensations ran from my palms and knees.