Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park

Amber Catalina and her parents are Argentinian, and Jake is instantly stunned by how different she looks compared to when he last saw her five years ago. Amber has dark skin and a purple streak in her hair, and seeing her makes Jake want to stand up taller. Amber’s parents introduce themselves to Wes and say hello to Jake. Wes mentions that their parents are planning something for later.

That night, after supper, while everyone is roasting marshmallows, Uncle Brian (Wes’s father) announces that the kids will be allowed to go on hikes by themselves. He reviews safety information with them, including knowing how to avoid the top three ways to die in the wild (hypothermia, falling, or drowning) and the importance of having an itinerary that is shared with people back at camp. The kids spend the rest of the evening planning out their first hike around Lake Haiyaha and Emerald Lake, and they calculate how long the whole journey will take. Jake falls asleep, barely able to contain his excitement for tomorrow.

The boy arrives at the ranch and knocks on the door. A middle-aged man answers and admits he was expecting the boy. He introduces himself as Abner Sprague and promises not to turn the boy in. The boy reveals his first name is Abe, but he has no last name because he was left at an orphanage as a baby without one. Mr. Sprague also explains that the men who are after Abe—Mr. Whyte and Mr. Dunraven—want to take over the entire area. Mr. Sprague offers to let Abe stay with him and help build a trail to the top of a nearby mountain, and Abe gratefully agrees.

The kids pack their bags, review the itinerary, and strap snowshoes onto their packs. They eat a healthy breakfast, and Uncle Brian drives them to their starting point at Bear Lake, with a plan to meet them at the endpoint at one o’clock. Bear Lake is a stunning sight, with mountains and forests that reflect on the lake below. The trail is snowy and icy in parts and filled with people at first. At one point, a herd of big horn sheep charges through the trail, to everyone’s amazement. The kids eventually reach Alberta Falls, which means they’ve traveled one and a half miles so far. Next, they make their way to Lake Haiyaha and take a break along the way. Jake is in a hurry to reach Emerald Lake to find his next clue, and at first, he insists on this without explaining it to the others.

When snow starts to fall in heavy amounts, Amber and Wes think it might be best to skip Emerald Lake and head back to Bear Lake, but Jake feels compelled. The other two follow him until they reach the lake, and Jake finds a large tree with huge roots extending across the rocks. He explains to Wes and Amber that his grandpa left him a scavenger hunt, and the next clue is somewhere in these roots. Amber and Wes agree to stay and look for five minutes, but then they must turn back before the storm worsens. They dig through the roots and snow until Wes finds something glass. Amber reaches in and pulls out a bottle.

Amber notices something inside the bottle but puts it in her backpack, explaining that they need to resume their hike as soon as possible. The trail is hard to find at first, and the kids unknowingly end up on top of some boulders. Jake falls through one and becomes lodged in the snow, and Amber and Wes must dig him out. It is a terrifying realization of the reality of danger in the wilderness, and Jake is grateful for their help. Everyone agrees that they’re a team and have to stick together, and they trudge on with Wes in the lead.

Back at Bear Lake, Uncle Brian is concerned when he sees Jake. Jake notes that he did twist his ankle but managed to walk back on it without much issue. Uncle Brian warns that if something so dangerous should happen again, the group needs to use their satellite beacon to call for help. He urges them to learn from the experience.

At Moraine Park campground, Jake apologizes for being so set on going to Emerald Lake. He also invites Wes and Amber to join his scavenger hunt, realizing it will be more fun (and safe) as a team. Jake even lets Amber open the bottle and pull out the leather strap, which reads “Apache Fort.” Amber can’t find anything about the place on her phone, so Wes suggests going to the library to see if they can find anything about it there.

Jake takes Amber and Wes to the camper to show them the scrapbook, the original note, and everything else he knows about the scavenger hunt. He explains what he’s learned and experienced so far and how he met Jasper, a man who seemed like he was hiding something. Wes wonders if the object is something of the utmost importance and whether Jake is being followed. Jake is skeptical of it but knows that anything is possible.

After spending some time with their families, the kids head to the library, excited to learn more about the Apache Fort. Wes discovers that it was a rock outcropping used for an ambush by the Apache tribe, although the ambush failed. The location is apparently close to a spring in Upper Beaver Meadows.

Abner insists on talking to Whyte and Dunraven and sends for them to meet him. Before the meeting, Abe spends some time examining the object and discovers it is some kind of spearhead. It has markings on it, and Abe uses charcoal and paper to replicate them so he can study them later. Abner shows up with several men, and Whyte and Dunraven do the same. Abner already knows he has Whyte and Dunraven in a tight place and says he already returned the object to the woman they stole it from. He threatens to turn them in to the police if they come near Abe or the woman again. Dunraven and Whyte realize they are cornered and leave, and Abe looks up at Abner with deep admiration.