Tawnie’s apartment was within walking distance from the university. It was an older, wooden three-story building with twelve apartments. There was no elevator, and for that reason, Tawnie was glad she was on the lower floor. The laundry was easily accessible at the end of the hall and the garbage bins were out back on the edge of the lot near where she parked her car.
Unlike Michael, who stayed on campus, Tawnie preferred something more permanent. Having to vacate and pack up at the end of June only to move everything back into another flat in the same building three months later was something she always hated. For the past two years, she lived alone in the two-bedroom apartment while attending school. Her plan had always been to get a roommate, but there was no one she friended enough to dare share her me-time with. Sharing a kitchen and bathroom with strangers was a big turn-off. Even worse, stepping into a wet, steamy shower after a roommate often left her feeling more dirty coming out than before she went in. She’d stick to surviving alone for now.
She always entered the building through the rear entrance where she parked. The carpeting was worn and stained and the lighting dark and dingy. She had to side-step one section where the tear in the carpet created a tripping hazard. The truth was, the place was a disaster, but the rent was cheap. Cheap rent meant putting up with low maintenance standards, the occasional lack of hot water, and the necessity of donning extra sweaters during the winter months.
The Sunday newspaper sitting in front of apartment 5 caught her eye as she side-stepped the ripped carpet. She stopped and stared down at the small headline on the right side just above the fold.
Hiker Falls to Death from Mountain
She knelt down and unfolded the paper.
THE CALGARY HERALD Sunday Jun 26th
Mounties in Canmore, Alberta, are investigating after a woman fell to her death while hiking in the Bow Valley corridor over the weekend.
Just before noon on Saturday, a hiker called 911 after hearing what sounded to be a woman scream as she fell from a hiking trail high up on the side of Heart Mountain. Mounties, wildlife officers, and mountain rescue responded to the scene and found a body near the bottom of the cliffs above Heart Creek. Her body was airlifted out late Saturday evening.
“The woman appeared to be hiking alone and there is no evidence to suggest the woman met with foul play. It is unknown at this time what caused her to fall,” Sgt. Baxter said.
“The woman did not have a cell phone or identification on her person when recovered. These items may have been dislodged during her fall. A further search of the area will continue tomorrow once daylight arrives. Investigators are still interviewing potential witnesses in efforts to identify the woman. She is described as Caucasian, in her late teens to early 20s, with shoulder-length blonde hair. She was wearing a light green T-shirt over a white sports bra, khaki-coloured shorts with pockets, and light grey, Columbia brand hiking boots,” Sgt. Baxter said.
“We’re asking the public to call us if anyone has friends or family who hike the area that match this description and may be missing or overdue,” added Sgt. Baxter.
Heart Mountain is a popular hiking trail about 80 kilometres west of Calgary near Canmore. The trail is popular for its steep three-kilometre scramble up to the top, offering magnificent views of the Bow Valley and Rocky Mountains. It is also known for its steep cliff faces on its eastern side above Heart Creek. In July 2009, two climbers in their early twenties died while climbing the cliffs after their gear failed and the two plummeted 90 meters to their death onto the rocks below. An inquiry into the cause of the equipment failure was inconclusive and that tragedy was listed as climber error.
Tawnie stood up and moved quickly down to her apartment with the paper still in her hand. She had to call her father.