[Day 113] East Glacier

My tent and campsite were dry this morning. The clouds are high, dry, and smokey, but I question when the rain will come. Tropical storm Hilary made landfall in Southern California; it’s only a matter of time before the weather remnants hit northern states.

I made the last seven miles along Morrison Creek Trail without a hiccup. The thimbleberries were in abundance, so I was stopping regularly to feast on them. My picking fingers were stained red.

I walked Skyland Road, took my breakfast, and kept on the dirt road until Highway 2. A couple drivers asked me if I needed a ride, but I denied, of course.

Highway 2 was about two miles of walking to Summit Campground, where I took my second breakfast. The highway had a red hue to it from I guess the red rock gravel. The dripping water tap had a brown-yellow off color, but I assumed it was from the piping. I drank from it without filtering. I’ve seen similar before from unfrequented campgrounds.

I continued along trail on the north side of Highway 2. Once I crossed the railroads, I entered Glacier National Park. I couldn’t legally camp without a permit, so the push was on to get to East Glacier. I packed out water from Summit Campground and, just before taking a swig, I noticed coagulated brown lumps in the water. Shit — this is not a good sign. I drank two liters of this water and made a bunch of oatmeal from it without any treatment at the campground. I threw some bleach water treatment in the water and the brown lumps dissipated within minutes. Shit again — that was some sort of bacteria. The next days will tell if I drank something bad. That water was marked potable! My laziness beat out my cynicism for humanity.

I made it rather painlessly into Blackfeet Reservation Land and East Glacier Park Village. Just before town, I came upon a black bear munching on shrubbery. He didn’t notice me, despite all my chatter with my mother on the phone. A couple yips and the bear was off into the woods scared.

My first duty was food. Brownies Hostel and Deli served up many pastry goods and a sandwich. I moved on to Looking Glass Basecamp where Will set me up with a $15 indoor sleeping quarters, a kitchen to cook, and a shower. I went for a frozen pizza and some Cokes offered on-site to pack on more calories.

I didn’t sleep great.

Signing off,

Zeppelin / fReaK (ON a leash)