SOLVED. YA Historical fiction - Wagon train party becomes trapped in supernatural icy/dark valley, preyed upon by monster living in cave. [s]

[Avery]

Driving me CRAZY!! Read 2005ish. I thought the title was something like "Chayatocha" or "Chayalotchka" but no luck with Google. Basically a wagon train travels through and becomes trapped in an increasingly dark/cold valley. People/animals start to go missing. Eventually main character is the only one left, he meets the monster/ice demon who lives in a cave on the top of the mountain. Other major character is an elderly Native American man living alone in the forest, surrounded by totem poles (of some significance?). Happy ending! Monster defeated, dawn breaks over the valley for the first time in a good many years.

[Andria]

Chayatocha by Shane Johnson

[Avery]

Wow. The author was the missing link?! You are my favourite human, thank-you for helping me find that!!! Thanks for nothing Google...=S