CDT Day 151: Red Eagle Lake to Reynolds Creek

Daily Miles: 13.9, Total Miles: 2,677.7

Late last night I was awoken by something crashing across a bunch of downed, burnt timber towards my backcountry campsite. It stopped outside my tent in my little cleared area. I smacked the side of my tent and yelled. Whatever it was jumped back and moved away a bit. I looked out of the tent with my headlamp and saw the outline of the bear scampering around and even careening off the side of the outhouse on the way out. Judging by the size, I suspect it was a grizzly.

Beautiful, cold morning and gorgeous reflections off of Red Eagle Lake. I headed out and soon caught up with Acorn, a NOBO hiker I had met in East Glacier. We hiked together to and along Saint Mary Lake. Congrats on your soon to be Triple Crown!

I passed scenic Virginia and Saint Mary waterfalls and found I was only a short distance to the Going to the Sun Road and a free shuttle that could take me to Saint Mary Village for a big cheeseburger. So off I went and came back on the last shuttle of the afternoon.

Only two miles to my backcountry campsite at Reynolds Creek. The downside is the smoke has come back with a vengeance. Even Logan Pass at the top of the Going to the Sun Road has been closed. I’m sure it is not healthy to be out here right now. Looks like I have this campground to myself.