Day minus one: “You should bring a dog.”

My train ride from Chicago to East Glacier park was pretty boring untill near the end when a few funny things happened. The train stopped in a small town called “Minot, ND” tiny town in the middle of nowhere. The conductor even made a joke about it calling it “The glorious town of Minot” A native woman name Gina, came on and sat next to me. We struck up a  onversation and engaged in some harmless flirting. She was going all the way to puyalup, WA, to her twin sons graduation. The train stopped in another small town and she got off to smoke and remember her mentioning  something about seeing her sister there. I got off to use the ATM at the depot.

I came out and noticed the door was closed to the car I was on. Not many people around but a couple people getting on way farther down the train, then they all got on and the conductor picked up the little step stool and got inside. The train was gonna take off! So I ran for it and got inside just as the train started rolling! Took me a while to find my seat. When I did, Gina was not there. I Checked the snack bar and she wasnt there, so i bought an over priced beer and headed back to my seat. Gina had been left behind.

I told the conductor as he was walking by and he threw up his hands and said ” Not my problem”

At the next town I was surprised to see Gina get back on the train. She looked slightly out of breath. She said ” God is good!” And everyone in the seats around us cheered. Her sister had driven her 106 mph. Through the reservation to catch the train at the next town.

The rest of the ride I talked to Gina and an old cowboy from Kalispell who told me about his adventures in Glacier National park and growing up in Montana.

Finally I got to East Glacier Park. It was starting to rain, the dramatic back drop of the mountains, where shrouded in cloud over. There was a Mexican resteraunt in the center of town named Serranos. They had cabins for rent in the back. I checked into one and bought a few last minute neccesities at the general store.

The Mexican restaurant seemed to be the best place to eat in town. It was packed on a thursday night. It looked like there were quite a few actual Mexicans in the restaraunt, so I figured the food must be good. But then I realized these werent Mexicans, they were Black foot Indians, which made sense, seeing as we are on a Reservarion. Some Indians, saw me waiting for a seat and motioned me over to sit with them. I tokd them about my upcoming adventure. They were shocked that I wasnt carrying a gun. (I seem to have this conversation several times per thru hike) They told me about the grizzlies. Then a woman said I should bring a stray dog to keep the bears away. They all agreed.

Coming in I did notice some interesting stray mutts wandering around, with strange admixtures of pit bull, wolf hybrid and blue heeler. They could probably do the job of chasing off bears.