I woke up pretty early. I feel like I actually slept warmer in my tent with my down sleeping bag than I did in the little cabin, but it was so nice to get a good nights sleep with a real pillow and a real bed and not have to worry about animals or other people. What a lovely little cabin, thank you so much again Doug!

I pack up my stuff and hit the grocery store one last time.

I meet The Professor at the Ranger station and we’re able to add him and Mr.Poppins to my permit! They’re going to take a day in Many Glacier and join me for the next night at the Atlantic Campsite.

There are so many thru hikers this year, the rangers seem swamped. I gift them one of my paintings to show appreciation. Thank you Glacier NP Rangers!

I pack up and head out. I pass by the Many Glacier Hotel we stayed in a few days ago! It’s cool that I walked back 😎

The rest of the morning I’m following the tracks of a big hoofy animal. I never actually get to see it, just its hoof prints. I wonder what it could be.

I meet three other hikers, Ketchup Daddy, Sloppy Joe and Uncle Dipper. I leap frog with them most of the day.

The trail climbs up a big pass. The views are just gorgeous.

A massive waterfall tumbles above the trail. Just stunning.

I pause to filter water and paint. I love to use my sawyer squeeze filter as a gravity water filter so I can paint while it processes the water.

As I paint, two deer walk up the trail. They were not happy to see me, and I can understand, I was sitting in the middle of the trail. They nod their heads with dissatisfaction and run up the snowbank straight up the side of the mountain. Gosh they’re so sure footed and strong. It was really fun to watch them navigate the terrain with such ease.

I come across a park ranger, they ask to check my permit. I’m staying at Gunsite campground for the night. The ranger gives me a heads up, there might be a problem goat at that camp. Exciting! This is the third ranger that has warned me about this goat. I wonder what kind of goat games it gets up to. Maybe I’ll find out tonight?

The climb up Piegan Pass is just gorgeous.

I reach the top of the pass.

On the way down I get pretty tired and take a well overdue snack and stretch break.

Down down down the trail goes, through thick green brush. The mosquitoes come out. Lucky for me I hike faster than them.

The trail then goes under the Going to the Sun Road! How cool! I imagine my Mom and Paul driving here in a few days.

Ketchup Daddy catches up to me (I wonder if his trail name is from the condiment or from fast hiking and catching up haha).

I’m camping 5 miles off the official CDT trail tonight (it was the only open camp the rangers could get me). Hearing this he offers to share their site. It’s super nice of him, but I want to do the permits by the book. Also. Someone needs to report back about the problem goat. Might as well be me!

I cross a suspension bridge and pass the campsite Ketchup Daddy offered to share. I told some other campers at the site to let him know that I continued on.

Man those extra five miles were tough! I was thinking they would go by fast but no. I got pretty tired and there were lots of mosquitoes, and it started raining and the mosquitoes just kept coming even though it was raining! I was sort of impressed, but mostly annoyed.

The flowers were pretty in the rain tho!

I eventually make it to camp. I was so hungry I just plop down under the bear hang pole and start cooking dinner. There are so many mosquitoes!

A weekend backpacker shows me where the cook area is ahahaha

I relocate there and have a great time chatting and getting to know the other backpackers enjoying the park. No other CDT hikers at this campsite. For people who like to hike a lot, thru hikers will rarely do any extra miles that aren’t on the official trail. I guess I’m doing an extra 10miles here. It’s so beautiful though and totally worth it.

Once fed, I take some time to explore, the campsite is near a beautiful lake below Gunsite Pass. Waterfalls tumble down cliff sides into the glacial blue waters.

I find a nice flat spot to set up my tent. There is white goat hair everywhere!

I’m hoping to make some goat friends. Will report back how it goes.