2023 CDT - Day 33 - A Zero Day - Glacier Meadows

We did a lot for a Zero Day

The Chinese Wall, Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT

It was a late night last night. We had all the windows opened initially as the day had been so warm but a nice breeze had kicked up. Late in the evening a family pulled up to the campsite right up next to ours and they had four young girls and two boys and they were all pitching in and giving directions to get the three tents set up. It was kinda cute but did make falling off to sleep difficult. Eventually it happened. As a result we slept in, for us, until about 0800. Fortunately the kids all slept in until after 0900.

Beau was a pretty big hit around the campground. As we went on our walks people would comment on how cute he was or kids would ask if they could pet him. Beau ate it up. One family all wanted their pictures taken with him. One little boy was all giggles and laughter as Beau just kept leaning up against him almost knocking him over wanting more. It was nice.

We drove into East Glacier to the bakery for more danish and coffee and then went on to Two Medicine Entrance to talk with the ranger at the station about permits. They person at the park entrance would not let us proceed as we did not have a reservation to enter. She advised us to come back after 1500 (3:00 PM) when permits or reservations were not required. We headed back to our campground and noticed there was a trail to a "Lost Shirt Creek". Just a side note.

At the campground Runningbird went on to clean out her pack, swap out back-up batteries for her cell phone charge, and get as ready as she could for her return to the trail. I topped off the T@B water tank, did laundry, and watched the new camp host, who had just started here today, cut out the old water heater in the laundry and install a new one. It was a bit entertaining. He mentioned it had been leaking on the electronics for a while. It was almost as if they were waiting for him to get here just to give him the plumbing job, and he did an admirable job. He commented the hot water heater he removed was dated 1956. That's one long lasting water heater!

About 2:45 we headed back to the Two Medicine ranger station, proceeded through the entrance kiosk without an issue and waited, next in line, behind a guy who was trying to get special permitting for specific campsites and the NFS computer system was giving the woman behind the desk a real trial. We waited for nearly an hour and a half for her to resolve the issue, which she finally did. Since it was now after 4:30 PM, the Park Service worker could not issue Runningbird a permit today but she could at least get a printout of the sites that would be available to choose from the next day. They weren't optimal choices, mileage wise, but they would work and would include taking an alternate route to the Canadian border. We would have to return tomorrow morning to get the permits issued.

Photos from Runningbird on the trail - Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT.

We left Two Medicine Ranger Station and headed back towards our campground near Marias Pass. We were going to check out a "healthy" restaurant listed on Google in the unincorporated town of Essex near Marias Pass but it was now too late to chance. Peggy was not only hungry and exhausted from the trail but also exhausted from the two hours she had spent, patiently, in the ranger office dealing with the permit issue. We prudently decided to check out a Mexican restaurant in East Glacier minutes away from where we were. It as a good move. It was busy but we were seated on the patio directly and enjoyed a pleasant meal.