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Excitement of entering Glacier NP
Day 140
Date: 18.09.2022
CDT Mile: Mile 2'901.3
Miles hiked: 14.2 miles / 22.3 km
Elevation: 2'949 feet ascent (899 m Aufstieg) / 2'703 feet descent (Abstieg 824.4 m)
Camping at: Atlantic Creek Campsite, Glacier NP, 5'443 feet / 1'660 m
We got up and together with 'Squints' we walked to the Glacier Lodge to get the famous breakfast buffet. The Glacier Lodge is an amazing building on itself but I was rather disappointed of the breakfast buffet. There was no bread! How doest hat work? Breakfast without bread and butter? Only sweet pies and cakes and muffins next to bacon, scrabmeled eggs, sausages, etc. I was still able to fill my belly all the way up obviously😁 my plan was to return, pack our gear and hike out. But we kept on talking to all the hikers and by the time we started to hitch to Two Medicine (we slackpacked that section yesterday already, which I am super happy about!) it was already after noon. We got a ride from a couple staying at Looking Glass too around 1.30pm. They also picked up 'Honeybun' and 'Shuttle', who are hiking this section southbound, meaning they start at the boarder and hike down to East Glacier, as they didn't get any other permits anymore... we started hiking shortly after 2pm, which is late for a 14 miles hike. First the trail is super flat and we even spot some goats on the parking lot. Then the trail meanders along the valley and gently started to climb through a forest. Once we left the forest and climbed higher, we had this shunning views down the valley with a big lake, hugged by steep mountain walls leading up the sky. The last 1.5 miles up to the pass got steeper. My backpack felt super heavy and I had to stop several times. Next to food for 4.5 days I also carry a medium size glass bottle of prosecco for the boarder crossing. Once on top of the pass we are rewarded with absolutely amazing views down to a lake valley, the trail leading merely meters off the cliff edge. We step out to the sheer cliff ridge and could see the sky in the lake below us (the clouds were being mirrored to the lake), and feel and hear the cold wind blowing into our faces. I think I am dreaming, it is that beautiful. This is how freedom must feel, I think. How must native people felt like when they have seen such a beautiful place at first? And where there even dinosaurs and mammoths here millions of years ago?
We leave this beautiful pass and head down to the valley. We still have to hike around 8 miles and it is getting late afternoon already. Also the downhill was very pretty. As we pass a campsite (in glacier national parks the campsites are pre-designed and you need a permit to stay there), we get to understand that all campsites have a food-prep area, a food hang area, a pit toilet and several small campsites around. That means we do not have to stop for dinner a couple of miles before reaching camp anymore. I love it! Even though it ain't very logical to me, as specially Glacier NP is well known for its grizzlies and black bears. It is because of grizzlies we had to take this special measurement of cooking before camp, to not have a smelly campsite for the night, which could attract bears more likely. But we do have to hang our food, which I would have anyways. Wed finally reach our campsite, ATL Atlantic Creek just before it got dark. We just managed to filter water and pitch the tent still in the last daylight. Cheetah, Mouse and Captain already left East Glacier in the morning and by the time we get there, they are heading into bed already. But Baby Grand, Rex, Kingo and Grit are still out with us in the dark, while we cook and eat dinner. Soccermum carried out 1 liter of wine and we all enjoy a glass or two (or three?😆), before heading into our tents after hiker midnight.
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