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07/19/2017
Day 5: A Little Rest
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/1346.jpg)
I traveled about 15 miles today.
With sore legs and feet from the long dusty roadwalk yesterday, we planned to have a short day today and rest a bit. Another reason our day was short is because there is supposedly a 14mile stretch with no water just ahead and we didn't really want to do 30 miles, or carry enough water for the distance plus an overnight. Bear grass is in full bloom and the pollen is thick. We brush past it much of the day and are covered at times, but it is beautiful. So, here we are spending a very relaxing afternoon and evening at Red Meadow Lake campground. The lake is wonderful and I spent a long time swatting flies and throwing them in for the trout to eat. A pit toilet, easy water, and towering mountain view make this a great spot to rest. The trail here today was uneventful. A very long steady climb up old logging roads followed by a short stretch of recently maintained Trail 26 was the day. Whoever maintains this section did a ton of work this summer digging tread and even pounding rocks. We met a few mountain bikers at the campground who are riding an approximate continental divide route. Then at the end of the day, Alex from Australia rode in. He started in Banff and is heading south along the same route. It was nice to talk with him a bit. We met no one on the trail today - but it is Monday I guess.
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Posted: 07/19/2017
Posted: 07/19/2017
Done Hiking Today
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/endofday.gif)
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
Day 4: Civilization, Sort Of
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/1344.jpg)
I traveled about 23 miles today.
Brown's Pass, today's starting point, is on the Continental Divide so it's all downhill to the Pacific now. And our day started out extremely downhill - a very steep descent to Bowman Lake. On the way down, we saw a moose grazing about 50 yards from the trail, oblivious to us due to wind direction and noise from the waterfalls. We stopped for lunch at the Bowman Lake campsite which I would vote in as the prettiest site in Glacier. About a half hour after lunch, as we were getting water cartoon a small stream, a young lady climbed up the short distance from the Lake shore. She and her two companions were having difficulty paddling their canoe West against the very strong wind that we were thankful for forkeeping the bugs away. She asked us to let the rangers at the west end of the lake know of their predicament. We got to the campground and told the camp host since no rangers were around. From Bowman Lake to Polebridge is a 6 mile dusty, busy roadwalk. We had fortunately gotten water from the camp host. The only interesting thing about the road was that we finally saw a bear! A pickup passed us and w then saw it stopped in the road after coming around a bend. They were easygoing the bear so we did too. It was only 20 yards from the road casually eating trees. So we walked on the other side of the pickup as they slowly drove by as a barrier for us, just in case. We finally reached Polebridge, ate outside at the saloon (which was pretty good), then hiked out of town since the publicized 'Merc' store didn't really have any backpacking food that we could find. This first bit of civilization was enhanced by our chance meeting of an older fellow and a couple at the saloon and chasing with them for quite awhile. We also saw our canoeing friend in front of the Merc - it turns out they persevered against the wind and made it on their own. We also met another PNT hiker named Alexander in Polebridge. He's staying here
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Posted: 07/19/2017
Posted: 07/19/2017
Day 3: Canada Almost
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/1343.jpg)
I traveled about 17 miles today.
The night at Fifty Mountain campsite was comfortable and quiet. We rose, packed, and got hiking to blue skies and sun painted peaks. The high peaks to our east provided shade as we headed north, dropping into the Watertown valley to intersect with the actual PNT. The trail was terribly overgrown and seemed like a perfect place to meet a bear. No luck. Goat Haunt ranger station and the Canadian customs was funny. While we were looking at the big Lake Watertown, a Canadian customs guy asked where we were coming from - I pointed back South and said 'back there'. He asked where we were going - I pointed West and said 'over there'. He then asked if we had been in, or were going to, Canada - I said 'no'. Then, he said 'well, then I don't even need to talk with you.' Fine with me, he started the conversation. While our morning was all downhill, the afternoon was a continuous climb, but not to steep. We made it to the top of Brown's Pass and spent the night at the buggiest site in Glacier, at least from all the warnings we got from dayhikers, rangers, and trail crews. It wasn't that bad and it topped off a serious 1000ft climb at the end of the day. Still no interesting wildlife but the mountains are wonderful. We've met some nice folks but no other long distance hikers yet. Tomorrow is all downhill and out of Glacier.
Day 2: Hike the Divide
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/1342.jpg)
I traveled about 17 miles today.
ad West.
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Posted: 07/19/2017
Posted: 07/19/2017
07/18/2017
Done Hiking Today
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/endofday.gif)
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 07/18/2017
Posted: 07/18/2017
07/17/2017
Done Hiking Today
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/endofday.gif)
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 07/17/2017
Posted: 07/17/2017
07/15/2017
Done Hiking Today
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/endofday.gif)
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 07/15/2017
Posted: 07/15/2017
07/14/2017
Done Hiking Today
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/endofday.gif)
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 07/14/2017
Posted: 07/14/2017
Day 1: Feet On the Ground
![](http://hikingdude.com/i/blog/1337.jpg)
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Posted: 07/14/2017
Posted: 07/14/2017
07/09/2017
Pacific Northwest Hike
![pacific northwest trail](http://hikingdude.com/i/trails/pnt_l.jpg)
![](http://assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png)
My Pacific Northwest Trail hike starts July 13.
Taking the Amtrak to Glacier National Park with my son, Josh - arriving the evening of 7/13 (if the train is on time). After camping overnight, we'll get our backcountry permits first thing in the morning, take a shuttle up the Going to the Sun road, and start hiking. About 65 days later, we hope to reach Cape Alava on the Pacific coast of Washington. Cape Alava is the westernmost point of the 48, and the western terminus of the PNT.
We welcome you to follow along in whatever way works for you:
- HikingDude.com - There will be a post at the end of each day, recalling the recent adventure - includes a real-time map of our progress.
- Instagram - photos of the coolest stuff will show up here.
- Facebook - announcements of blog posts show up here if that is more convenient for you.
We'd love to have you follow, like, share, or comment. Whenever you leave a comment, it makes the long days on trail more fun - really! If you know someone along the trail map, tell them we're coming because it's a huge treat to actually meet someone. There aren't a lot of towns along the way, so this trail is very isolated.
Also, I've got Hiking Dude stickers along to give out to folks we meet, to be stuck on water bottles, bumpers, whatever.
Our general plan is to hit Bonners Ferry, ID in 2 weeks and take a week off. I've been asked to present Dutch Oven Cooking at a Lutherhaven Weekend for ladies, and Josh will do volunteer staff work at Lutherhaven. So, we'll spend July 28-Aug 4 in the Coeur d'Alene area.
After that, it's just feet to the ground across Washington, trying to not get lost, eaten, or dehydrated for another 900 miles.
Hike On!
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Posted: 07/09/2017
Posted: 07/09/2017
Older Posts Newer Posts
All Comments:
Feb 13, 2020 - Jason Berklund
Hey hiking dude I have several questions planning my first north to south trip
from 270 all the way down. I kind a know what to wear what to eat all that
important jive. I am in relatively good shape definitely Not concerned about
where in tear. 45 years old going with a 21-year-old nephew. My question is
I have friends in Duluth that I don’t want to burden with driving me what’s the
best way to get up to otter Lake Road that’s not gonna cost a crap ton. We
were thinking 15 miles a day. We were also thinking hammocks. Let me
know what you think please. I have read so much and look at so much and
heard so many opinions but You seem to be very realistic on your
comments. Thank you
Feb 13, 2020 - Hiking Dude
@Jason - Hammocks work fine - most campsites have lots of trees.
15MPD is realistic, and you'll probably do more than that many
days.
Getting to the northern terminus is expensive (in my mind). If you can schedule correctly, Arrowhead Transit is cheapest to Grand Marais, but then Harriet Quarles is the only shuttle I know of. You might find a good ol' boy in Grand Marais willing to drive you the 35 miles to the end for a few $$$.
It's a 3 hour drive from Duluth - that's 6 hours and 300 miles round-trip. Maybe your friend would like to drive up the north shore for a day.
Getting to the northern terminus is expensive (in my mind). If you can schedule correctly, Arrowhead Transit is cheapest to Grand Marais, but then Harriet Quarles is the only shuttle I know of. You might find a good ol' boy in Grand Marais willing to drive you the 35 miles to the end for a few $$$.
It's a 3 hour drive from Duluth - that's 6 hours and 300 miles round-trip. Maybe your friend would like to drive up the north shore for a day.
Feb 04, 2024 - John
Me and my fiance are going to Costa Rica for our honeymoon and we
are so excited!
May 02, 2024 - Zeke Mead
Has anyone cycled this Camiño? Sounds like the trail is a road
and if trucks are able to do it, maybe bikes too?
May 03, 2024 - Hiking Dude
@Zeke - Someone could certainly bike part of the Camino de Costa
Rica, but other parts are simple trail that would not be passable
by bike.
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