Ever since Sam had moved to the mountains, he had an interest in exploring caves. He had always been adventurous. Sam was small,
but strong and stubborn. Sam and his friend always went exploring caves together. They knew it was safer to explore with a friend than to go alone. Besides it was more fun. They had recently discovered a new cave opening, and plans were made to spend the next day exploring it. When Sam arrived to pick up Harry, he found Harry sick with mumps. Harry would be at least two weeks getting well. Sam knew the winter snow would begin to fall soon and close the opening of the cave. Should he risk his safety and explore the cave? He couldn't stand the thought of waiting until spring to see the cave, so off he went. Once inside, Sam found the cave to be all he had hoped for. The cave was large enough inside for him to stand and seemed to go back a long way. As he began making his way further in, Sam suddenly slipped and found himself on his back, drenched in an ice-cold pool of water. As he moved to get on his feet, a searing pain ran up his leg. Sam had sprained his ankle, and he could not climb out of the pool. "Why did I come alone?" he groaned. Not long after, he heard a familiar voice calling from the cave entrance. "Sam! Are you in there?" "Yeah," Sam yelled back, "Ritchie! Is that you?" "Yeah," shouted Ritchie, "Are you all right?" Ritchie made his way inside the cave towards Sam's voice. In the dim light, he could see Sam sitting in the pool. "What are you doing in that pool. It's cold in here." Sam felt strong arms help him to his feet. "I fell in and sprained my ankle. How did you know I was here?" "Harry knew you would try it alone", explained Ritchie, "so he gave me directions to the cave to make sure you were all right. It looks like it's a good thing I came when I did!" Wrapped in a blanket and safe outside, Sam was sure he would never go exploring alone again. What is the setting of this story?
