Day 14 – Friday : Glacier (169 km) Now equipped with our bear spray, together with disposable ponchos, to ensure we looked suitably stylish should we meet wildlife, we drive out of the valley, turn north, and head into the Many Glaciers area (“No Glaciers” would be a better name these days).
The weather isn’t being kind to us. It is both windy and raining – basically exactly the same as the average weather we experience in the Lake District or North Wales back in Britain whenever we go there for some hiking.
We follow the trail up towards Grinnel Glacier. The trail is easy and clear, but the weather is getting worse as we gain altitude.
We get much of the way up, but then find the trail closed as it is partially snow covered. We didn’t have the luggage space to bring our ice spikes, and in any case the snow isn’t very solid, so there would be a risk of falling through into streams or holes under the snow.
As we descend to Lake Josephine the weather starts to improve.
We shelter by the boat dock and eat sandwiches before moving on along the other side of the lake from our outward hike.
The weather is much better now, but it has a sting in the tale. After passing the lodge a sudden rain squall blows through and soaks us. It is my fault, since I have taken off my poncho.
It is still early in the day, and a look at the map shows how close we are to Canada, so we decide to drive up to the border.
Sally suggests we cross the border, really just for the sake of it; maybe she wants another fridge magnet. I don’t want to take the truck across – there could be all sorts of awkward questions, it might invalidate Chet’s insurance, etc. Crossing borders, especially with vehicles, is not something I like doing on the spur of the moment. You risk successfully crossing the border and then finding you don’t quite have the correct paperwork to get back. And I don’t see much point in just walking across and finding ourselves on a highway through a forest. So we satisfy ourselves with a souvenir photo.
On the way south there is a side turn marked Waterton Park; let’s see what’s down there. There are some nice views, but inevitably it ends at another border post. At this one many people have parked and are getting their hiking gear ready. I’m not sure they actually cross at the official border crossing. I suspect they just hike into the woods and then head for the lake, crossing the border amongst the trees.
Back at the campground and it is much busier, but then it is Friday evening, so that is to be expected. Right on time the rain starts as soon as we are set-up.
I take a walk around the campground to see if there are any interesting vehicles, and would you guess it, that Brazilian Toyota Hilux is there again. The occupants are chatting to a US couple when I edge in to learn more. This Hilux is a 4-cylinder gasoline model (unlike the turbo diesels from Europe) and belongs to Cirilo from southern Brazil. He has driven it to the southern-most point of South America, before travelling up the west of the continent and through Central America before touring the US. His onwards plan is for Alaska, ending at Prudhoe bay. Various people have accompanied Cirilo on his journey – his girlfriend, his father, and at this time his best friend Arley (standing on the steps at the back of the camper in the photo).
You may notice that this is a very small camper for two fully grown men, plus he carries bicycles, and airconditioner and it even has a small bathroom onboard. So given that Cirilo has a policy of never turning down an invitation, I invite them to come for drinks in our camper (admittedly I should have cleared this first with Sally, who has now washed her hair and is getting ready for bed). We have the slide deployed, so they are suitably amazed by the size of this apartment on wheels compared to their mini version. They are a great couple of guys to spend a couple of hours with and have wonderful stories of the people they have met in their travels. As Cirilo explains, the scenery will be here for a long time, but the people you meet will soon be gone.
