hike draw hike

I wake up at 5:30. The Professor is faster than me at packing up and heads out. I feel Ike I’m playing a Tetris game trying to fit all my food into my pack.

The morning light makes the trail glow gold through the trees it’s beautiful.

I leap frog a few times with The Professor through an old burn section. Young pine trees are growing, it’s nice to see the forest come back.

A huge thank you to all the trail crews who clear all the downed trees from the trail! Wow, that must have been a lot of work.

Professor and I break for lunch. I’m able to finish some journal paintings.

Professor shares a special cooking his wife Terry baked and sent him in his resupply box! It’s so yummy! Wow! Thank you!

Back on the trail I have some time to myself. I run into The Breeze, I thought he was behind us! It turns out he took an alternate that was shorter.

We pause at a really cool ranger cabin.

They have an old spigot that still works! So cool.

I continue hiking on the official trail and The Breeze takes another shorter alternate.

The views are stunning. So many wild flowers!

I start to get tired. I can see The Professor on the ridge behind me. He is really good at taking breaks. Seeing him reminds me to take a break and I feel better.

The trail leads is down into a valley. I stop to make dinner a mile from our planned campspot. The Professor catches up and sits with me while I make food. He heads out but forgets his water bottle! He comes running back! I would have carried for him! Oh well haha

The spot we had wanted to camp at was already filled with tents! There are so many of us CDT hikers!

We back track down the trail to some stealth spots under some pine trees. It’s tight but I manage to fit my tent under the branches.

True Grits joins us! We hang our food and I look at options for camping tomorrow. We’re coming to a big alternate trail option that looks like it will have a lot of stream crossings and blow downs (trees that have fallen across the trail). It should make for a fun day.

I woke up early and tried to catch up on writing blog posts. The hotel I’m staying at has non existent wi-fi. I’m a little peeved since it wasn’t the cheapest hotel, but it’s what you get I guess for being so remote.

I make one last trip to the post office and general store. The store has a little cafe with Wi-Fi. I order some oatmeal and attempt to upload a blog post with no success. Gah I’m wasting time AND my phone’s battery.

I head back to my room to try and charge my phone a little more before heading out. The next section is a long food carry. 6-7 days. My pack is heavy! The trail is going to take us deep into the Bob Marshal Wilderness. A very remote section.

A lot of hikers are slack packing a small portion of the trail from Marias Pass back to the town of East Glacier to lessen the food carry. Slack packing is where you leave your things in one place or with a person, then get a ride up the road and hike without your heavy backpack. I don’t want to hitch so I decide to hike strait in with all my gear and food.

The anxious feeling I get when I’m in town recedes as I get farther into the woods.

True Grits and Thin Mint walk up the trail towards me. They slack packed and are heading back towards town. They tell me the Professor is maybe 5 min behind them/ ahead of me. Yay! I speed up and catch him taking a break. He is a great conversationalist and the heavy food doesn’t feel as heavy with the distraction! Also I don’t have to yell ‘Hey Bear’ as often, or talk to myself out loud haha

We come across another slack packer, Crush, who said he was just charged by a black bear a mile down the trail. Yikes. We’re extra loud when we pass through the area and luckily have no encounters.

It starts to sprinkle. Another hiker catches up to us, The Breeze. The sprinkle turns into rain.

We pass over the train tracks over Maria’s pass.

I was just here with mom and Paul! How fun!

It feels a little surreal walking back to these locations.

The Breeze decides to camp at the campground by the road, his shoes got really wet. The Professor and I cook at the campground and decide to keep hiking after dinner to find a different spot. I’d like to get in the habit of not sleeping where my food is cooked, like the system the Glacier National Park rangers have set up. Plus! This campsite has no trash cans! It’s kind of shocking haha

A nice lady in her camper van offers to take our trash for us. Thank you!

We find some flat spots .4 miles from the campground and hang our food. The Professor is from Alaska and has a lot of bear experience and gives me some great tips for hanging my food.

Instead of pulling down on the rope to raise the food, walk backwards while holding the rope. 👍 That technique causes much less tension on the tree branch and is a lot easier on the hands.

We set up camp 200 yards from the food.

Hopefully we’ll catch up to The Geologists, they left East Glacier earlier in the morning.

I feel really good heading into the Bob Matshal Wilderness. I think this will be the most remote backpacking I’ve done yet.

I definitely had too much to drink last night and woke up several times throughout the night to drink water.

Our tents got soaked with condensation. I carried mine to the little camp cafe to dry in the sun while I ate breakfast. I had a breakfast burrito and it was really good! I caved and finally bought some chapstick (I’ve been stubbornly trying to manage without any, which has been a mistake).

Professor, Toast and I exchange contact info and inreach information so we can keep in touch at town.

The climb out of two medicine is gorgeous.

I could see some sheep heading down the opposite slope.

I meet a too friendly marmot on the trail.

I then pass a charming older couple hiking for their anniversary. They let me know there would be cell service at the top!

I catch up to Sir Poppins and we hike together for a little bit.

The ridge line reveals an epic view of flat land and beyond. The town called East Glacier is just off in the distance.

I’m able to face time with Doug while I hike! It’s really nice to see him and share a bit of the landscape I’m traveling through.

The terrain turns into beautiful grass fields filled with wild flowers corralled by pine and aspen.

Professor, Sir Poppins and I hike into town. It’s fun observing the transition from wild land to manicured lawns.

I am so looking forward to a shower. Unfortunately for me both hostels are full! There are so many hikers!

I decide to walk to the post office to get my resupply. Everyone is mailing back their micro spikes and ice axes.

Lucky for me my mom and Paul aren’t too far away. We coordinate to meet up today so I can keep hiking with the little group I’ve found. On the walk back from the post office I manage to snag a hotel room. It has lots of space.

I shower and start laundry. Mom and Paul arrive just as my clothes are drying. We share pictures and get dinner. I give her my ice axe, micro spikes, gaters and Jiji.

I’m sad to report that Jiji’s eye is starting to fall apart and I’m worried it will get worse. He’s already lost his nose! Poor fella. So, I’m officially retiring him from the trail. He was a gift from Doug when he visited Japan and has been on many adventures with me starting with the PCT. Maybe my mom will make him some goggles.

Thank you so much Mom and Paul! You both are life savers.

I check in with the other hikers I’ve met and get a sense of their plans . It would be nice to hike around people! I’m hoping to stay not too far behind or too far ahead.

The Wi-Fi in my hotel is non existent and I’m unable to email or post anything. Very frustrating. I’m at least able to text and call Doug. Phew! First town stop in the bag.

We eat breakfast at camp. There is a lot of talk of doing this green alternate route that shows up on the Farout Maps.

I hadn’t planned on doing it but we talk to the backpacking guide in camp. She says that it’s a really gorgeous trail and that it would add about 2 miles to our day, so it sounds like a worthwhile side trip. The group heads out and I spend the morning hiking with The Professor and Sir Poppins.

The day is just beautiful.

The trail starts to lead us up the pass and The Professor and Poppins stop to get some snow to make water. I have a liter so I feel good to keep going.

I get to the top of the pass where the green alternate trail starts, it clings around a very steep scree slope. It looks like a big drop, and the scree slants the trail making it really narrow, like a slidey cliffs edge.

Gulp.

I look back to see if the others are continuing. They are, so I push ahead.

I try not to look down at the trees way below me. I get a little vertigo going around a sharp rock ledge. I manage to make it around the bend to an outcrop of rocks.

I pause there to catch my breath and see where the trail is heading, oh boy, more scree cliff side drops for a long long stretch. The way littered with rocks that have fallen from above. Gulp.

I look back the way I came and everyone is gathered at the pass. They’re just standing there. Are they reconsidering?

I don’t want to hike past the blind turn by myself (I feel safer if someone has a visual on me and I have a visual on them) so I decide to wait and see if they turn back or start hiking towards me.

It feels like ages haha

But they eventually start heading towards me. It helps that Poppins is wearing a bright blue shirt, I can see him from really far away. I almost turned back there for a second. But they’re going for it, so I’ll go for it too.

I put on my ‘blinders’ and just focus on each step, carefully picking my way along the loose rocks.

I eventually make it to a saddle and pause again to see if the others are still coming.

I see them paused at the rock outcrop I waited at. Are they going to keep going or turn back?

I see Poppin’s blue shirt move forward on the trail. Phew! They’re continuing haha

I decided to wait wait for them this time.

The Professor comes bounding down the rocks onto the saddle, just beaming. Scree cliff side? No big deal for this guy!

The others all catch up and we all break for lunch. I feel so much more at ease seeing everyone else so comfortable on the cliff.

It’s really fun! The 360 views are just incredible, mountains and waterfalls and lakes and forests.

We start to head out but then realize there’s Verizon service!

I stop to call Doug and my Mom, I try to send them some pictures but everyone is leaving aaah! I’m last now and trying to keep up along the scree, carful to not get sloppy with my steps.

I manage to get around the last steep turn, what a relief to be off the scary scree cliff! I can breathe again haha

The trail goes down a long gradual grade towards Two Medicine.

It starts to down pour. I put on all my rain gear, the other hikers have umbrellas.

I didn’t bring mine for this stretch, my rain coat and pants do just fine. It was really fun hiking in the rain! I just love the rain, everything smells so good, like that gift shop cedarwood smell. All the plants just glisten and the colors get brighter when it rains. It was awesome because you could still see pretty far. I pass Toast and Poppins and catch up to The Professor.

We cross a bridge to the Two Medicine camp and the sun comes out.

I head over to the ranger station to check where they would like for us to go. Were in the back country sites.

There’s a cute little camp store with a small cafe. I order two bratwursts on pretzel buns and they are soooo delicious.

True Grits and Thin Mint are also there! More CDT hikers!

I buy myself a drink and head to the lake to rinse out my hair. It’s just heaven.

Back at camp The Professor and The Geologists bought the crew some six packs! Another hiker named Gourmet joins us for dinner and we have an awesome night hanging out. What a great group! I feel so lucky!

I forgot to write about what happened to Ice Age’s spoon I found on night 1!

When I got to Many Glacier, I asked the front desk if they were holding any hiker boxes.

They were! I asked if they had one for Toast or Ice Age. They did! Awesome! I was able to leave the spoon with the boxes.

Last night Toast arrived but with out Ice Age. Apparently he injured his knee going over Indian Pass in the icy rain and snow.

He hiked out to Chief Mountain trail head next to the border and is waiting for Toast in East Glacier. Gosh that’s too bad! Glad he’s okay tho! Toast is going to deliver the spoon to him. This spoon has been on adventure!

I slept pretty good last night for how many people we had in camp.

There are seven other CDT hikers, include myself and that makes eight! That’s way more people than I expected haha

When I was researching the trail, most sources say that south bound route is the less popular option and to be prepared to hike without seeing anyone for days. So far that has not been the case at all!

It’s fun getting to talk with the other hikers! We have two geologists from Canada, their trail names are Shamrock and Scraps, they hiked the Great Divide Trail (a continuation of the CDT that goes all the way north through Canada)! Then there is The Professor, he is a scientist that engineers cancer killing drugs. Mr.Poppins is also in the film industry! He works on live action shows like The Boys. Toast is a lawyer. Disco is a tiny lady from the east coast, she is hiking solo like me and uses a giant pack cover over her backpack. When you hike behind her all you see is her giant pack cover with little legs coming out of the bottom! There’s a Norwegian couple, I don’t catch their names, but they eat Nutella and seeds for dinner.

I wake up at 5:30am and am out of camp by 6:30. The trail travels along Saint Mary Lake and passes several gorgeous waterfalls.

It’s beautiful and very easy hiking.

I pass Poppins, Toast and The Professor having breakfast.

I suddenly find myself in the middle of a patch of trail covered in tufts of deer fur. It looks like there had been a struggle, yikes. I consider waiting for the others (you should avoid dead animals because of bears)

But I didn’t smell anything dead and I was already right in the middle of whatever it was so I hiked through with no incident.

The trail enters a large burn section and I feel more relaxed being able to see farther down the trail.

Poppins catches up and we hike together for a small stretch. We stop at a large suspension bridge.

The Geologists pass us. I continue on and Poppins waits for The Professor.

This next section I am in the zone and just blast up the trail. I pass by Red Eagle Lake and continue up and up.

The land is just beautiful. I come across some bighorn sheep hiking up the trail in front of me. They bound off up the hill giving me a wide birth. Sorry for kicking you off the trail sheep! They navigate the blow downs with ease.

Closer to the top of the Triple Divide Pass, the burn section turns back into live trees with lots of wildflowers and bear grass!

I leapfrog with The Geologists all the way to the top! They are really strong hikers.

I reach the pass first and take a beat to do a painting. Hiking with Geologists is really fun, they talk about how the pass was formed and why the rocks look the way they do. Some of the peaks look like goblin castles to me.

The hike down traversed along some beautiful red rocks.

I reach camp and pick out the biggest site I can.

The rest of the crew rolls in and we have dinner in the communal kitchen area. There is a guide at the campsite and we have fun chatting with her and her clients! She makes them dinner and shares some delicious dehydrated pineapple dipped in melted dark chocolate with us. Yummm Thank you!

What a neat job!

I turn in early to get some rest from today’s hard work.

Well there was no goat activity last night. Kind of disappointing but at least I got OK sleep. The birds definitely wake up with the sunrise which is at 4:45 AM so I got woken up then but was able to go back to sleep.

I tried to sleep in till eight. I woke up to make breakfast and chatted with some of the other backpackers. They are going up over the Gunsite pass and do not have ice axes. I wish them well and tell them to turn back if they don’t feel good about it. Hopefully I don’t see them later!

They depart and I take some time to paint by the lake. The sun comes out illuminating the waters a magical turquoise blue.

It feels nice to take my time.

What an awesome day! The hike back down to Reynolds Creek went by really fast compared to last night. The 5 miles flew by and I was at camp in no time.

I had the place to myself.

The Professor and Mr.Poppins are joining my permit for this next stretch so I pick the biggest tent site I can find.

I spend the afternoon painting, I wash my feet in the creek.

As the day goes on hikers start to show up!

There are eight other CDT hikers camped at the same campsite as me! And we all have the same permit itinerary! Tonight, then Atlantic to 2 Medicine to East Glacier! So it’s gonna be a lot of fun hiking and getting to know these new people over the next few days.

Tomorrow is a really long day, 25 miles and we’re going over a pass so I’m gonna try to go to bed.

Goodnight!

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.

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.

I wake up and make breakfast in the communal cook area. The two other CDT hikers, Toast and Ice Age head out while I paint a view of the lake.

Self Rescue and I find one of their spoons! Oh no!

I part ways with Self Rescue (she has a different itinerary) and head up the trail to reunite hiker and spoon. I yell their names but no luck.

I don’t catch them before they turn off onto a different trail up Indian pass to their next campsite. I remember Toast had mentioned they had left a resupply box at Many Glacier… maybe I can leave the spoon there. My permit itinerary has me there a day ahead of them.

It starts to sprinkle and I don my rain gear.

The trail climbs up and over a pass covered with yellow flowers. The rain turns to snow, I’m having a great time but definitely feeling cold and wet.

I put even more layers on, filter some water at 50mountain campsite and eat a high calorie bar before descending. The food and water really help me warm up.

My next camp site is off the official CDT route, the ranger directed me around some snow obstacles higher up. I’m glad to be heading out of the snow. It continues to rain on and off as I pass through an old burn section. I see a grouse, a deer and some bear tracks.

I arrive to my site, Flat Top mountain and meet 4 other CDT hikers, The Professor, Mr. Poppins, Pond Bear and Wild Card. They all flipped up from a southern portion of the CDT to wait out the snow in southern Colorado. Poppins is on trail just through Glacier NP. He is hiking with The Professor for their 10 year hiking friendship anniversary. They met on the PCT in 2013. Non of them were able to get permitted campsites past Many Glacier.

I offer to try and add them to mine. I so far have had extra space in camp each night. They say they’ll think about it.

I retreat to my one tent spot next to a stream. The rain continues to sprinkle on the tent. It’s really cozy and I feel super warm. I’m hoping to sleep well tonight.

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!