Oooof. I had to pee really bad at 2:40am in the morning. I peeled myself out of my tent and made my way to the pit toilet. Waiting for me there were these terrifying glowing eyes! I reach for my bear spray…… It was just a deer but it really spooked me haha

The deer are really salt starved. The park asks that all campers use the pit toilets because, well, the deer will try to eat your pee. Yep. This campsite has a bathroom attendant.

I make sure to latch the door when I leave so the deer can’t get in.

I was able to get a little more sleep.

When it was time to pack up, everything was covered in ice crystals.

Even the inside of my tent.

I’m glad I thought to put my water filter in my sleeping bag. If it gets frozen it won’t filter properly anymore.

The frost was really beautiful but it was melting fast. I hustle to pack up and shake all the ice off my gear before it melts and makes everything wet and heavy. It’s much easier to shake off the ice. There’s enough frozen condensation from inside my tent to make a tiny snow man!

My hands are too cold to do so though.

I eat breakfast while I hike. The trail descends down a big hill. The sky’s are clear and the views are gorgeous!

Someone else made a tiny snow man!

I learn later that it was Poppins! He also had a bunch of frozen condensation in his tent and shook it out later after departing from camp.

A CDT snow man!

Pond Bear passes me, he is a fast hiker! He stops at a stream crossing and jumps in the water (ah, that’s why his trail name is Pond Bear, he jumps in any water he can find).

I cross a suspension bridge. I can see the Going to The Sun Road up above.

It’s a big climb over another pass.

I start to get into a rhythm and leap frog with Professor and Poppins. I pause to paint one of the stunning mountains called Heavenly.

At the top of the climb is the super charming Granite Peak Chalet. They were just opening for the season. The views are gorgeous, what a cool place!

The Chalet has a very nice pit toilet. I take the opportunity to use it and hear some very impatient scratching at the door.

“One minute!” I call out, “Someone’s in here!”

It turns out, this little critter was trying to get in.

So many salt starved bathroom attendants!

I continue on down the second big decent of the day towards Many Glacier.

I’m really pleased to report my knee has no pain and my legs are feeling strong.

Wild Card catches up to me and before I know it he’s gone like a bullet. I watch him run down the super steep narrow trail to catch up with Professor and Poppins, kinda scary! So sure footed! I take my time and look for mountain goats, no luck.

I can see the Many Glacier Hotel way down in the distance. It’s really cool having the opposite vantage point from our stay there earlier.

I finally reach the bottom of the valley. There are loads of day hikers. I hike fast even though I’m tired.

I check in to the super charming cabin Doug reserved for me.

Thank you Doug!

I do town chores, laundry and shower. I only have so many clothes so I wear my rain clothes while I wash my hiking clothes.

It’s so nice to feel clean!

I bump into Professor and we make plans to meet at the ranger station in the morning to see if I can add him and Mr. Poppins to my permit.

I get dinner at the motor inn cafe and call Doug before bed. The Wi-Fi is terrible and I’m unable to blog, so apologies for these super late posts!

What an amazing fist 3 days.