CDT - Day 156 - Waterton Park, Canada
This morning, I woke up excited and a little anxious to get going. For the first time in Glacier National Park, I didn't wake up freezing cold. Yesterday's weather had been miserable, but this morning was beautiful as I woke up overlooking Kootenai Lakes.
The three of us hit the trail around 7:30, knowing it would be an easy final day for Pudding and me. Unfortunately, Greg would have to turn around once we reached the border and hike back into the park. He'll spend one more night in Glacier before making his way out toward the Chief Mountain border crossing, where he'll get a ride back to East Glacier.
Reaching the Canadian border was an emotional experience for all three of us.
Pudding arrived first. He started hiking fast because he wanted to reach the border and experience that moment alone. Once I realized he was practically running, I intentionally slowed down. I took more pictures, looked around, and tried to soak in those final miles. When I reached the border, Pudding gave me the space to experience it by myself too. After more than 3,000 miles and nearly six months of hiking north, I was finally there.
I took some time to soak it all in before sending out a few notifications and making a couple of phone calls.
Greg arrived a few minutes later, and for him, reaching the border meant completing his Triple Crown. He had already completed the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail a few years ago, and now he could add the Continental Divide Trail.
The three of us took our photos together and hung out at the border for a while. Before saying goodbye, Pudding and I gave Greg all of our extra food for his hike back through the park. I also loaned him my sleeping pad and pillow. Somehow, this man has hiked the last thousand miles without an inflatable sleeping pad or pillow.
And just like that, after starting at Crazy Cook on April 11th and spending nearly six months walking north, I reached Canada.
I finished the Continental Divide Trail.