What an amazing finale to complete the Continental Divide Trail, America’s most challenging thru-hiking route! The last 105 miles of the CDT to Canada took me through Glacier National Park on the US side and Waterton Park on the Canadian side. The last four days were filled with epic landscapes and waterfalls, incredible trail support, fresh food, abundant berries and water, and new friendships. I felt strong and was in harmony with nature and myself. It all happened during my birthday week. It was as if the whole world was saying, “Miho, it’s time for celebration!”
When I arrived at East Glacier, I hitched a ride first with Ace, a mountain biker, then next Rachel and Broden, who were traveling from South Carolina to St. Mary Lake, where my friend Ana works. I obtained a backcountry permit from the wilderness office, and Ana took me to a dining hall where I could eat as much as I needed for dinner and breakfast the next morning. Having fresh-cooked food was a luxury. It was so delicious, and I felt much stronger than usual as I had enough calories to power through the steep hills of Glacier’s passes.
The next day, I hitched a ride back to East Glacier with Jane and Bruce, the boaters. I ate too much breakfast, so I was slow in the morning. I felt strong after all the food had been digested. From Two Medicine to Atlantic Creek camp, climbing over the Pitamakan Pass was easy. On the way, two park volunteers warned me that Pitamakan is a grueling pass and I won’t make it to Atlantic Creek camp at such a late hour. I told them that I had planned to be at the camp before dark. They didn’t believe me. That’s okay. In my mind, it’s not Colorado, and after the pass, it would be all downhill. I knew I would make it.
The evening light was beautiful. The view of Oldman Lake was stunning. At such late hours, nobody was there on the trail. Even in a busy park, I was able to feel a sense of remoteness. After the pass, I cruised down the hills and made it to the camp before losing the daylight.
At the camp, I met two backpackers who were part of a group of seven men from Tennessee. They are friends from college. Even though they have their own lives, they manage to go on a backpacking trip once a year. All the way until Glacier, I was camping by myself. It was a very different experience for me to see and talk to people at the camp. These guys were ordinary backpackers, and I enjoyed the normal conversation with them. No trail names. No competitiveness. Just hikers enjoying nature and each other’s company. The next morning, I met all of them, and a new friendship came. Some of them live near the Appalachian Trail (AT). They told me that they would hike the part of the AT with me next year! I’m blessed to undertake another thru-hiking for 2026!
After saying goodbye to the guys, I hiked to St. Mary, going over Triple Divide Pass. I was able to catch the morning light on the wall as I approached the pass. Stunning views and marmots welcomed me at the pass.
Once I made it to St. Mary, I got a ride with Monica and Lakshman from Atlanta, Georgia, and had dinner with Ana in the dining hall. Again, fresh food! It was like backpacking European style. Ana suggested that I reach out to her friend Paul, whom I met days ago. He works at Many Glacier, and Ana said he could help me with food.
The next day, I passed by Many Glacier in the late afternoon, and Paul saved breakfast and lunch for me. Amazing! It was a rainy day. I went over Piegan Pass, and I could see glaciers behind the rain clouds. I wished I could see it clearly, but the rain with no wind was so cleansing. I didn’t put on my rain gear and just let the warm rain wash over me. It was as if the creator was giving me one of the final days to take all that serves me and leave what doesn’t behind. Soon, the rain turned into fog. I climbed up to the Switch Current Pass, then down to Granite Park camp for the night. My last night on the CDT in the US was so quiet and peaceful in the fog and soft rain.
Then, it came my last day. It was just like any other day. I woke up in the dark and left the camp as the daylight was breaking. It rained a little in the morning, and slowly, the fog started to lift, and mountain goats appeared on the cliff at 50 mountains. What was different was that I took more time to eat berries! They represent abundance- believing that our life is full of opportunities, help, and resources as long as we learned to receive what we need with gratitude. I picked mountain sage and inhaled the scent. They are the healers, reminding me of the fact that we can heal ourselves and restore the kinship with the earth.
By the time I made it to the final pass, I felt sunshine on my face. I looked up and smiled. I saw a grizzly bear in the distance. Then came the final epic 3,300-foot downhills all the way to Waterton Lake to the Canadian border.
I was free. Finally, I became a walker who climbs the passes and peaks with strength and agility, and moves like flowing water over rocks and turns on the downhill. Effortlessly. Beautifully. Will I ever get to what I have become again? I don’t know. I will always remember how I feel now. A vast sense of freedom and being whole. Being who I am meant to be. Being the best version of myself. What an amazing feeling to be alive and wholesome!
In the late afternoon, I stood at the southern end of Waterton Lake. From there, it was only 4.5 miles to Canada. The sun was bright. The whole world was shining. I left the shore and started walking north along the west shore of the lake. Soon, I couldn’t hide my excitement anymore. My pace got faster and faster, then I started running, crossing creeks, and moving through thimbleberry forests.
After crossing the Boundary Creek, the forest opened up and there it was- monuments that mark international boundaries between the US and Canada, standing in the evening light at the shore of Waterton Lake. I slowed down, caught my breath, took the last few steps slowly, carefully placed my palms on the letters that said Canada on the stone, and hugged the monument tightly. I exclaimed, “I made it! We did it!” Many times. Nobody was there. Who cares! Then I burst into tears. I took photos and went down to the shore of the lake for a celebration, skinny dipping. It felt so good to submerge myself in the water and feel clean upon completion of the CDT! I took my time to make dinner at the shore, relaxed, and enjoyed watching the sunset over the mountains. What an amazing ending with such beautiful weather and a place! Then, settled in for the night at the nearby campground.
I came this far with my two feet, a backpack, and a whole village of people helping and cheering me along the way. That is You. Whether you have known me for a long time or you happened to meet me on the trail or road, or in town, this was only possible because of people like you!
I am going to take a week off from hiking and get ready for a bike trip on the Great Divide MTB route, riding all the way back to the CDT southern terminus to make a full circle. I am looking forward to the next chapter of this journey.
And for now, all I can say is thank you! Together, we did it! It’s only halfway for me, and I hope you come along with me for the next half.
Cheers!
