No Permanent Address: Hiking the hard way

Last week Colene told me she needed to take the week off from hiking and catch up on her work. This was my chance to push myself and get in as good as shape as she is.

So on Monday, I rode the park shuttle to what they call The Loop on the Going to the Sun Road and hiked 4 miles up 2000 feet in elevation to the Granite Chalet. At the top, I had lunch with another couple--Mark and Jan from Kalispell--who followed me up the trail.

This couple, plus one study group from the Glacier Institute, were the only other people who walked up this trail, although Mark and Jan have counted more than 300 people coming down the trail in a single day. You see, most people walk the basically level section of the Highline Trail from Logan Pass to the Granite Chalet, then down the steep four miles to the Loop.

I initially planned to walk up and back down the same four miles, skipping the very busy Highline Trail. But everyone I met said the walk on the Highline would be worth it. It was another 8 miles out—four more than I had planned—but the views were especially good looking into Logan Pass. I hope you agree.