I stayed up till midnight writing blog posts and got really poor sleep… oops! It’s worth it though!

I woke up early to the most beautiful view outside our room. The mountains kissed by the sun rise. It was hard to go back to sleep after that.

We packed up and headed downstairs for breakfast. Last pre trail meal!

Doug helps me out with my walk in permit itinerary for Many Glacier (there were no campsites available). He books a me room for when I return. Doug is the best! Thank you Doug!

Mom, Paul and I head out. We stop at the last gas station and soon arrive at the border!

We spot some other hikers just beginning their hike from Chief Mountain. Another place to start hiking the Continental Divide Trail if you don’t want to go into Canada. The border agent clears us and we drive on to Waterton.

We make a quick stop at Tamarack outfitters. They are amazing and have a wide gear selection. I’m able to pick up some bear spray AND check in with the US boarder crossing, they ask if I’m carrying any chickens or eggs, lol! Nope! No chickens or eggs on this hiker.

Mom and Paul shuttle me a little farther up the road to the trail head. How special to have my mom send me off on this adventure! I’d like to give a huge shout out to her and Paul for helping me! Thank you!!! Most epic trail angels ever!

We say our goodbyes and I disappear into the green.

The trail hugs upper Waterton Lake. I can hear the lake’s waves lap the shore line as I hike. It is just fabulous.

I eventually reach the US/Canadian border. The clear cut line goes all the way up the mountains. I’m lucky to run into some day hikers, they get my picture at the monuments.

On the US side, the trail is super overgrown. I’m very glad I have my hiking pants. It’s very hard to see so I make lots of noise to let the wildlife know I’m coming.

I catch up to a pair of weekend backpackers, they give me a heads up that one of the camp sites is closed due to a problem bear. I look at my maps. I get to hike right through that spot. Yaaay.

I pass through the site and thankfully have no bear encounters. I hike up the trail and find two rangers talking with another backpacker named Addison. She is also staying at my camp spot for the night! We agree to hike the rest of the way together. The rangers check my permit and send us off. They start posting signs on the trail to avoid the problem bear area. Apparently a bear got someone’s food bag and was looking into people’s tents. It’s amazing how much care the rangers put into protecting the park and its wild life.

It’s a lot of fun hiking with Addison through the brush! It starts to sprinkle on and off, we pause to put our rain gear on. We arrive at Kootenai Lake camp and hang our food at the very convenient hanging poles the park provides at each campsite.

Glacier NP has a pretty cool camp set up to protect the wild life. The very first thing you do when you arrive to camp is to hang your food. There are designated camp spots and a designated cooking area near the food hanging poles. This way no food ever reaches where people sleep. It’s great! I’m totally taking notes for when I leave the park haha

Addison and I decide to share a camp spot and set up right next to the lake.

The view is stunning. I stretch in the sun wile Addison drys her clothes.

Back at the cooking area we meet two other CDT hikers! Toast and Ice Age. There is also a mother daughter team backpacking north into Waterton. It’s a lot of fun cooking with everyone and hearing their stories. We give Addison a trail name: Self Rescue, because she got lost off trail earlier but was able to navigate back and refind herself.

We go over maps together by the lake as the sun sets.

What an awesome first day in trail!