In 2012 near the end of a long hike in Glacier National Park I encountered a group of women headed back to the trailhead. It was only three miles, but they kept my mind off the newly formed blisters on my feet which made walking unbearable.
I hadn’t given that encounter much thought until just recently...
Weather delayed the start of my 19 mile solo hike on August 6th. This put me on a section of the trail that is frequented by bears, much later than I wanted to be on it, especially alone. Just before reaching Swiftcurrent Lookout, a couple coming down the trail passed me and I asked where they were headed. Their response “Many Glacier” was EXACTLY what I wanted to hear. I quickly scrambled up to the lookout and back down to catch up with them for the remainder of my journey.
Similarly, last month while hiking the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire, I encountered a man and his two sons on the summit of Jefferson. I had already been on the trail for several hours, mostly in silence. Their conversation as we descended was exactly what I needed to lift up my spirits.
There is no doubt in my mind that Trail Angels exist. Here’s to hoping you never need one, but that one is there if you do.
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