Your character runs an inn for resting mountaineers. It’s a calm life, until they encounter a twist of fate.

Posted in Winter on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 47 stories

“Unexpected Guests” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #129

Climbing season seemed to have begun quietly this year. Maybe it was because Fall had lingered longer than normal. Maybe it was because the economy wasn’t particularly healthy but either way, I was down on hotel bookings. I had a cousin who was a whiz at web design, so I decided to call her and ask if she could help improve my web-page but, in the meantime, I thought a good Spring clean was in order. Or, a Fall clean, if I was being accurate. My little hotel consisted of ten rooms, a restaurant, meeting room, reception area and was situat...

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“For Those Winter Years.” by Jason Sanders

Submitted to Contest #129

My knee hit first. My good knee. Followed in rapid succession, like a drum riff delivering a bad joke, by my hip, shoulder and ultimately my face. The wooden boards didn't yield one bit as the impact glued me briefly to its surface before depositing me with a pathetic thud in the drifted snow. I exhaled a combination of irritation and exhausted resignation in the form of an unsurprised grunt and looked up through the swirling cloud of wind-caught powder. "Beyond this point," the sign said, in cr...

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“Inn Keeper of the Past” by Joshua Barclay

Submitted to Contest #129

Staring out the window, watching each snowflake increase in size as time passes. Inch by inch, snow builds up on the window seal. Ice forming around the edges of each of the four window panes, the centers fogging over from the warm fireplace inside. The past few months have been real lonely with only a few customers taking refugee at the Inn on their journey through the mountain pass. Most snowy mountaineers will camp during their hikes over the mountain side. Unless a storm blows through forcing them into a sturdier...

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“The Winter Hearth” by Kreig Durham

Submitted to Contest #129

The Winter Hearth Inn was a staple of the western slope. Thrill-seeking animals came from far and wide to test themselves on the rugged slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and the inn was well-known to all of them. After braving the snowy peaks, weary climbers often stayed at The Winter Hearth for a few days, enjoying the roaring fires, the hearty meals, and the peace and quiet that it provided. Harold, a stout mountain cottontail, worked diligently all spring and summer to prepare for the winter season and its slew of hikers and adventurers. For...

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“Heat in the Snow” by Inaya F

Submitted to Contest #129

“Checking out of room 302 under the name Ferhat Jafar” a tall man said with full snow gear on. “Sure, you’re all set, have a nice day, sir.” I said, looking to see if the lady behind him would follow him up. Yup, that’s my life. I people-watch, check families in, and basically have lived in the snow my whole life. Well, since the age of twelve. My parents own an Inn for incoming skiers in Southern Colorado. Now our inn isn’t in the middle of the resort area, it’s actually on the edge of a highway in the middle of nowhere. But, just 3...

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“Worm Burner ” by Francis Hill

Submitted to Contest #129

Eyes wrinkled as if squeezing out sand granules. The climbing troop leader sits revelling in his youth.“We climb zero six hundred, tomorrow,” the troop leader says.I nod. Back to reading ‘Ransom’ by David Malouf. “Gramps,” the leader taps my mahogany desk. “Listen. You listen?”I nod. Back to ‘Ransom’ where Priam and Somax are entering the Greek camp. “So, what I say?” “You will leave at six A.M to stomp on, stab with ice pics and conquer the lower slopes of Gyachung Kang.”“Ahh good,” the troop leader rubs callused hands. He of...

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“Tea at Ma's” by Jessica Barnes

Submitted to Contest #129

“More tea for ya, kiddo?” The gentle innkeeper, known to her guests as simply “Ma,” held up a ceramic tea kettle with a wrinkly smile. The guest, a reserved man in his mid-thirties, hated her use of the word, “kiddo.” In fact, the false familiarity disgusted him and he worked to suppress a wave of nausea. He had hoped he could ignore the old woman, but there were no other guests downstairs for her to bother with. This inn was quaint and supposed to be a hot-spot for local tourists coming to try their hand at the ski runs on Beatty Mountain. ...

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“Call to arms” by Greg Short

Submitted to Contest #129

The small town, Towns End, nestled at the foot of Mount Aldebrang, was a popular place to stop for rest for traders, making the journey through the mountain pass. The Inn had grown over the years, Tau’s father had added extensions, as had his father before him. The different wood and different workmanship gave the building character. It was late when the guest arrived. He banged the snow off his boots and entered. Tau was used to strangers arriving like this. The pass was treacherous, so successful merchants sent paid men to move their ...

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“An unexpected journey” by Wilke Kewitsch

Submitted to Contest #129

When you run the only inn at the mountain pass border between Iria and Catlin, you meet your fair share of oddness. One might even say that was to be expected, even. Only those crossed the pass that wanted to test their luck or those whose luck had run out. The pass connecting both countries was steep and dangerous, passable only on sunny days for the slightest snowfall would unleash deadly avalanches. After ten years of working in the business of pouring tankards, wiping tables, and breaking up drunken brawls, Anton had seen all: fello...

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“The Inn” by LaToya Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #129

I guess I will go clean up this lobby room. It is still in turmoil from last night's wedding reception. Where are the housekeepers? I guess they found their husbands and their happily ever after because I haven't seen them since. Future reference for self. Hire employees with work experience. As I was gathering up empty wine bottles, beer cans, and plates of left-over refreshments. I heard someone coming down the steps. It was a little early though check out time is normally 11:00 a.m. and it was only 7:00 a.m. I walked over to the steps to ...

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“The Final Derby” by Barb Brown

Submitted to Contest #129

They finally found him, but not until he had broken surface with his arm, sticking up at a weird angle, frozen in place like a landmark, or a single goal post, something very lonely. It looked ghastly and sad at the same time. The reclusive Inn was a well-kept secret amongst the regulars and they held their clandestine fortress close to their chest. It was a members' only kind of environment, although there were no memberships held by anybody who came there. Just kindred, kindred's friends and extended family would be there ...

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“Sky's Edge” by Mark Baxter

Submitted to Contest #129

Sky’s Edge Dear Catherine, The first thing we learn, when we go on the run, is to never ask questions. Questions are, after all, doorways. Those who are running away lock those doors behind them. The second thing we learn, perhaps the most disturbing lesson, is that no one is who they seem to be. It is this discovery that makes the runner stumble, and lose their way. More often than not, this insight starts the runner’s mind on the path to the revelation that, in the end, running away is futile. There is nothing more dangerous than t...

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“The Confession ” by Moon M.

Submitted to Contest #129

Raving through snowy woods, Annabelle and Seline had nothing on their childish minds, except the destination ahead, the destination ahead that wasn't even a destination at all, though in their case anything could be called a destination. They got lost, clumsy enough in the middle of the woods, on an incredibly cold, icy and snowy day and additionally it was getting very dark now. Seline was the owner of an Inn, not far from these woods that could at least give them a place to stay and hopefully a phone to call their f...

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“The Late Buffet” by Cassi Beebe

Submitted to Contest #129

Lily was brushing down the old wooden desk she used for check-ins when she heard the door open. When she looked up to great her customers, she saw Mrs. Barnschweigel. An older woman, probably in her late 50s, she was particular about her room and everything else. True to form, she headed for the desk and Lily suppressed a tiny sigh – she really didn’t have time for whatever manufactured crisis was coming her way, she had a group of new guests that were due to arrive any minute. But Lily knew the key to the success she had made of the small r...

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“The Charging Bear” by Tyra Walker

Submitted to Contest #129

“I’m telling you Barry, she was driving me crazy. I’ve never been so happy for it to be such a dry month.” The dark-haired, burly man in the thick coat leaned against the bar, his face flush from ale. He was among at least a dozen guests of the cozy inn, milling about merrily throughout the establishment. The innkeeper Barry chuckled in response. He had a deep, hearty laugh that rumbled from beneath his short, red beard. He leaned against the other side of the bar, sharing a drink with the other man. “I’m glad you’re happy about the lack of...

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Your character runs an inn for resting mountaineers. It’s a calm life, until they encounter a twist of fate.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 47 stories

“Unexpected Guests” by Mark Nero

“For Those Winter Years.” by Jason Sanders

“Inn Keeper of the Past” by Joshua Barclay

“The Winter Hearth” by Kreig Durham

“Heat in the Snow” by Inaya F

“Worm Burner ” by Francis Hill

“Tea at Ma's” by Jessica Barnes

“Call to arms” by Greg Short

“An unexpected journey” by Wilke Kewitsch

“The Inn” by LaToya Rhodes

“The Final Derby” by Barb Brown

“Sky's Edge” by Mark Baxter

“The Confession ” by Moon M.

“The Late Buffet” by Cassi Beebe

“The Charging Bear” by Tyra Walker

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin your story with a character crashing into something (or someone) while skiing.

Write about a skier who accidentally strays off-piste.

Set your story in a snowed-in chalet.

Write your story from the point of view of someone learning or teaching an extreme hobby.

Contest #129

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

182

Contest entries

92

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: