Saying goodbye is the toughest part of getting to the trail. Especially on Father’s Day! But I think my Dad is smiling from ear to ear. He knew this was my hearts desire and I’m sure that both Mom and Dad are cheering me on from Heavens Gates.

After the most incredible send off, I have boarded the plane. Sitting at the window seat, I confirmed that sure enough my big heavy backpack has been placed in the belly of the plane. Gosh those attendants work hard loading everyone’s bag onto a conveyor belt. Just looking at their faces confirmed that nearly each bag was packed to the fifty pound limit. The guy was sweating bullets from his forehead, especially for a mild day. And the gal was looking like she wished she had paid more attention in school. Get an education so you don’t become a Baggage Handler!

The blue skies are clear with few clouds making it super smooth. My Flight Attendant is sweet as pie, checking on me, calling me by my first name. She doesn’t even know me but you’d think we were friends from years ago. I had some extra flight credits so they upgraded me to First Class. Never ever experienced this kind of luxury before.

Had a bit of a delay so in the Taxi I went. Next stop is Amtrak to East Glacier. My driver was from Pakistan and knew the shortcut to get around the traffic from all things World Cup Soccer. We arrived with plenty of time. All aboard!!! And here I am now sitting in Coach watching the sun go down. This will be a very relaxing evening.

After a not so relaxing night on the Amtrak, I arrived in East Glacier. It’s hard to sleep on a moving train. But the highlight’s included a guy name Stu who was a volunteer docent. He narrated our relationships from Seattle to Wenatchee. Wealth of info, historian and geologist. And my neighbor Tim. He lives in northern Washington, is on the heart transplant list and is bikepacking Glacier NP. He was such a fun partner to have in the train, because honestly, you never know who you’re gonna sit next to. But God knew! He’s not a Christian and we have a very long discussion about my faith and his lack of. Planting seeds…

The train pulled into East Glacier at 0930, right on time. I beat feet over to the outfitters, and purchased Bear Spray and a small canister of fuel. Check, now all I need to do is score the perfectly timed hiking permit. I landed at Looking Glass Hostel and found my people. Younger, youngest, older and elders. Just do happened that Radio and his fiancé Coyote were headed to Two Medicine to get a permit. After yakking for awhile, they headed out and planned to add me onto their potential permit. Two hours later they were back with a permit in hand, including yours truly. Yeah, this is all sorts of good news.

Once my friend Carl arrived, we drove to Two Medicine, I paid the add on fee, obtained a CDT Hang Tag and I am officially hiking the trail. That was perfectly executed. All I need to do is get my person to Chief Mountain, touch the monument and start hiking south. God had it all worked out before I even arrived.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬