An Adventure Comes to an End and a New Adventure Begins

Well, here we are back in Western Washington State, pretty close to where we started from.  Our final Stretch from Eureka to Glacier National Park was extremely beautiful and filled with Memories to last a lifetime. 

Paved and Forest Service Roads took us to Trail 88 and the Ten Lakes Scenic Area.  Several hours of Rain cleared the skies of any lingering smoke that we had experienced earlier in Western Montana.  Places like Bluebird Lake, Paradise Lake, Wolverine Lakes, and Rainbow Lake gives you an accurate image of the wonders this region has to offer.  The Highline trail brought us back into the Grizzly high country where two apparently large bears exploded through the brush up and away from us. 

Then it was time for us to be the first to experience the new PNT Re-route to Polebridge and on to Brown's Pass to the western edge of Glacier National Park. But first, the Blue Sky Trail took us 7.5 miles up next to an old burn to the Whitefish Divide National Recreation Trail.  Once up high, the views of the glacially cut peaks to come signaled to us that our trip was winding down and would soon be coming to an end and eventually onward to new beginnings.  Memories and flashbacks of our Continental Divide Trail Adventure became frequent in this waterless ridgeline ecozone.  No other hikers were to be found here other than ourselves. 

In contrast, the National Park became a zoo like adventure with people from all over the country criss-crossing the mountains at almost every new turn we took.  The positive and uplifting unique energy in this sanctuary brought us continuous strength.  Every step that we took almost felt completely effortless.  Water indeed has created an artistic masterpiece here.  Its amazing how different the terrain is to the Whitefish Range separated only by a mere a valley and the Flathead River.  Although, the glaciers are vanishing here, it's up there with some of the nicest trail hiking the world probably has to offer.  Thunderstorms seem like a daily event.  We got three down pours on our way up to Brown's Pass and at Brown's Pass we finally crossed over the Continental Divide where the vast Pacific Northwest Region both begins and ends.  At 10 PM, it began to rain again.  However, it didn't stop till 4:30 PM the next day.  Have you ever seen a couple of drenched long distance hikers.  Funny site to see.  However, even with our limited views down to Goat Haunt and Waterton Lake, the official ending point of the PNT, we were still on top of the world.  Our trip wasn't over yet though.  Our goal was to finish this trail where we started our Continental Divide Trail Trek last year at Chief Mountain.  The rain finished its day at Stoney Indian Pass just in time to open up the views for one final inspection of Nature's own personal paradise.  Glimpses of receding glaciers, remnant snowfields, seemingly infinite cascading waterfalls, and splendid and clear subalpine lakes bid us to fare well as we descended down to the Plains and to another new chapter in the lives of two meandering Naturalists.

For Stacey and I, a walk in the woods is a journey to flow with the rythems of Nature.  It is a place to learn the personalities of the birds, the plants, and the mammals, as well as with all the creations of life.  The trail is a place to see why and feel why Nature's inhabitants live where they do and witness how they blend in with their surroundings.  Hiking through Nature allows one to see the subtle transitional zones of living things and to experience successional stages from start to finish and from birth to death.  A long walk in the woods allows you to see how life changes from moment to moment and from step to step. 

However, the trail is a different experience for all its participants who explore life.  Not only is it a journey through Nature in the outer realm, it is equally a journey through the inner realm.  Whatever issues presently confronts you in life, there is ample and focused time to sort them out.  It can be a time for many to overcome one's fears.  Nature is a place to remove your Self from your daily and habitual patterns in everyday life and to challenge your capabilites and preconceived perceptions.  What you were, disolves, and you become someone new with each step of discovery.  Life becomes bright and exciting where new choices and avenues can be taken.  You learn to live life Here and in the Now.  You can learn to live life without expectations and are continuously eager to witness what presents its Self around each corner and over each mountain to climb.  A sense of balance is achieved.  The trail becomes a place to define your Self.  A long distance trail teaches you to live simply and to drop the excess in life and to deal more with what really matters in our individual lives.  Life can feel so short, however, when you do the things that matter to you, time shifts, and each second feels like a lifetime.  Life on the trail is an accelerated learning adventure for all on a mountainous roller-coaster.  It is a time to tame the mind, and to relax and truly feel and understand your body for the very first time. 

We create our own seperate realities through our thoughts.  Therefore, if you take a step outside your normal reality and not so normal thoughts by taking a long hike through the woods and mountains, you will find your Self opening up and expanding your mind and your own personal universe.  Suddenly you will find your Self focusing your thoughts and life towards achieving your dreams and passions.  Flowing through nature will bring you that much closer to achieving your ultimate goals.

Happy Trails to All in your own personal and unique paths through life.