Friday July 8th, 2005 Day 5 Great sleep – maybe best of the trip. In the morning I packed up, had breakfast, and hiked about a mile up to the Going To The Sun road to catch a shuttle to take me to Logan Pass. It was a very steep hike but by now I’m in “Bring it On” mode. After arriving at Logan pass I hiked out to the Granite Chalet campsite. Wow – what a beautiful part of my hike – i couldn’t stop taking pictures.

This is on the road looking at…. Dolt! What is this again! Jackson Glacier?

Was here. Going to Here. Using this here. Oh! I’m here!

At Logan Pass. If I only knew!

Wow. How can anyone look at this and doubt if God exists. This is at the very beginning of the trail.

This little guy was directly on the path and you had to walk around him and not fall to your death. Many people on this trail. He was drinking water that someone apparently spilled and there was no stopping him. Note my pen I laid down here to give you a reference to how large these marmots really are… M.O.U.S.s? They don’t exist..

My trail behind Going To The Sun road down below My trail ahead

I crossed a cascade about once a mile on this trail after passing mile 3 or 4. Looking down while standing in one.

This was the turn around spot for day hikers. Some folks had a little snow ball battle – it was cool being in 80 degree weather having a snow fight. It was like the snow wasn’t cold. I sat and enjoyed lunch just like everyone else did.

Another great view. Someone said there were goats on this side of the pass. Regardless – there where much less people. BAAAAH!

I swear these guys were talking the entire way – the back one would mew then the front, then the back and so forth. And they could care less who was on the trail. It was their trail, no one else's – you can see the “That’s right.” look in the dudes eyes! I wisely stepped up off the trail and let them pass. And as they passed – each one paused for a sec, looked up at me and mewed to either say “thanks” or “that’s right!” WAA!

Lake McDonald Going To The Sun Road West Virginia?

I can see the Granite Chalet in the distance. But what the heck is this trail?

Ah – it’s Keith’s test. Where did the trail go? This was 0.6 miles and up 1000 feet. You do the math. Oh – and non-stop, and I ran it some of it, with my pack on. Challenge - completed

Top of the trail looking to the other side. I’m currently on the continental divide. *sigh* no – i forgot to pee here!

It was VERY windy up there – about 40 mpr winds…. No! Those are not my boobs! It’s the wind blowing my shirt!

Looking back down to the trail I was on…. Yeah – 1000 feet is pretty dern high!

Back down to the trail…. Would you believe I saw a bear? Yup – it’s in the pic – find it? There! What? Don’t believe me? Then you go take a closer look!

Almost to Granite Chalet….

There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…. For the slackers that is! No comfy cabin for me! I’m over the hill in my campsite!

After sunset standing at the Chalet. Met some great fun folks here and we talked for hours about stories…. Grouse – peep!

Saturday July 9th, 2005 Day 6 The final day. I woke up to rain. A very light drizzle – it made packing up a little interesting but no heart aches. My plan for the day is to make my way down to the Going To The Sun road and catch a shuttle back to the beginning of the park and my hotel. Guess what – i missed the shuttle by like 2 minutes. I ended up hitch hiking with a park ranger named Matt. Great guy – great stories again.

I watched the clouds from the storm lift off the mountains as I descended.

Close up.

Crows and Ravens again – which is this? Not sure. They are always in my life at crucial and significant times. Here on the way out.

Good bye to the walking sticks…. Thank you.

So as I’m waiting for my shuttle – a van pulls up and I go up to ask the guy when the shuttle is coming by. Before he winds down his window I see my reflection in it. Wow! That’s the first time I saw my face in 6 days. How cool is that?!?! I never once had one worry about my appearance while in the park. I get to my hotel – just outside the West Entrance to the park. I immediately jump in the shower and turned up the hot water. After finishing the shower I was drying my hair and I thought – wow that was a good shower…. And so I got back in and took another – HA! So I’m all cleaned up now and I walk into the little town. I find a restaurant there and I ordered the best meal on the menu, had a nice glass of port and just relaxed. It was nice to be a little pampered.

Summary Day Destination Miles Change in Ele Mon Shuttle To West Glacier - - Tue Hike to Apgar 2(2) 0 Wed Shuttle to Lake McDonald - - Wed Sperry Campground 8(2) 3500^ Thu Gunsight Pass ^ 3000v Fri Florence Falls 3 Fri Reynolds Campground 4 Fri St Mary’s Falls 4 Sat Going-To-The-Sun Road 1.3 Sat Shuttle to Logan Pass - - Sat Granite Campground 8 Sat Glacier Overlook ^ 1000v Sun The Loop v Sun Hitch-hike to West Glacier with Ranger Matt Total miles hiked on this trip – 50

Hence marks the first steps of my new life….