We are just now back into cell phone range after spending Friday -
this morning (Tuesday) in Glacier National Park. One could easily
spend a decade here and never really see the whole place. The trail
system here really allows a person to be in touch with nature, to sink
herself into the earth and be at peace with the land and with oneself.
We got into the East side of Glacier late afternoon and continued a
drive that took us along the southern border of the park and up into
the west entrance. We camped our first night at Sprague Creek
campground. The whole time here was filled with one wonderful unknown
becoming known after another.
So Saturday we hiked Avalanche Creek Trail to the lake. The adventure
began where we left the end of the trail. We met Rob and his 10 year
old son Kegan in a remote spot along the lake and chatted a bit. We
could see Sperry Falls in the distance and Rob made a comment about
having tried one year to get to them but could never find his way in.
Rob has been coming to Glacier for 35 years, as old as he is, and we
knew he might be a good person to adventure with. Kegan, his 10 year
old son, was a great sport having hiked 14 miles at a time with no
complaining - a kid being indoctrinated to nature from birth. :)
So ... off we went, past the sign that said, "End of Trail" to blaze
our own. Four people, common goal of reaching the falls through the
bush, different reasons for doing it.
It was a great journey of freedom, feeling every core of my body, mind
and spirit nourished and void of the restlessness that I had been
feeling being in one place for too long. I was alive and back home,
immersed in nature, and amongst new friends that will always be close
with this shared adventure.
We made our way to a spot part ways up the waterfall where our own
trail left us. The four of us determined from where we were now that
there was a pool up the falls a bit. Little is one able to comprehend
distance perspective to the top while standing at a 60 - 70 degree
angle. Up we hiked, then we crawled and scrambled using both hands to
grab and pull and legs to push up the rocky mountain side.
Rob checked out a few places where we might reach the pool, but there
was so much brush in the way that it was not going to be navigable. We
shimmied up some rocky spots that were a bit harrowing if you thought
about it too long, so I didn't. I just concentrated on my foot and
hand placement, where I was going to put the next foot and hand
placements and on trying to not knock down loose rock on my companions
following me ..
We had lunch on a grassy ledge where Rob took out his camp stove and
shared his ration with his two extra visitors. We ate a hot lunch of
alfredo, sardines and fresh picked huckleberries atop the knoll and
reveled in knowing that not many had been here before.
Kegan asked me if Kimberly and I would have made this trek if we had
not met them. I said we wouldn't have. I asked him the same, "Would
you and Rob have done this adventure if you hadn't met us?" He said no
as well. I love how nature brings people together.
The night of sleep was pleasant with the fruit of the day's journey...
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