Mount Anderson (7/2/23 Sun)

Exiting Canada was closer than I expected, only a few hours. I stopped at the Jerky store in Longview. It offered a lot of options, but all thin, not the thick jerky that I really like.

I took the scenic route 22 south and selected the Cheif Mountain smaller border crossing. This was a good choice for multiple reasons. One I photograghed Mount Anderson. It's shorter than I hoped, but it's outstanding. Besides shorter lines the extra benefit of the small boarder crossing is that it's open much later. The big one never changed back after Covid, so it closes around 6pm. Cheif Mountion boarder is open until 10pm. Given my timing I probably would have been OK with either. But Cheif Mountain also has curvey roads!

Once back in the US, I had to determine what was needed to travel the Driving to the Sun road in Glacier. Turns out Glacier info was already closed. The park gate said you needed a park pass starting 7/1, and that there is a checkpoint up the road open from 6am - 3pm. That meant I was stuck on this side until tomorrow moring, or so I thought. I rode into the campground to find it was full and unmanned. Back at the main road I turned left, to see options. What I saw was more scenery and what looked like no services. So I turned around and went back the way I came from, because I had passed some campgrounds. I choose the local (non-KOA) version closest to town. Turns out they had a tent spot, so I had my place for the night. After describing the no-refund she asked if I wanted a Glacier map? Yes. Then she noted that passes are sold out. But you if you go after 3pm or before 6am they don't check the passes. Good thing you don't offer refunds!

So I had timed things perfectly, but didn't know it. If I had just riden through the 50 miles that evening I would have been out within two hours. Traveling through the park before dark, and popping out the far side to find a campground. Plan B, get to bed and wake up early to pass the gate before 6am.

Tent and bedding setup, I talked with Anne on the phone (with good cell service). Then took my 6min shower with my one-per-day shower token, apptly minted in shiny gold. Then climbed into my tent to sleep as much as I could before my 0445 alarm.