Basecamp Re-entry

The balcony expedition was complete, and after days stationed out in the weather, it was time to move inward. I checked the rigging on the sliding glass door and worked my way across the metal sill, stepping down onto the quiet indoor carpet. The open room felt vast and still. Near the base of the sofa, I found an unused felt furniture pad with its adhesive paper still intact. Kneeling down, I peeled off the backing and pressed the dense wool pad firmly under the heel of my boot. It gave my footing an immediate, silent grip against the polished parquet. Good field traction secured.