The 'little help' comes not long after in the form of a rope end dropped down disturbingly close to him; she isn't trying to be a little shit. These things are hardly exact, given all the branches and snow and the care one must take with the edge of such a hole.

"To your right. From here, it looks that the most stable wall to climb against would be in that direction. I will brace you."

A woman's voice with what he would probably identify as an English accent (it is not).