I got up at 2am and star gazed. My back was in numbing burning pain, my feet
were also burning. I tried to stretch it
out but I wasn’t successful. I resorted
to sleeping on the sides in a way to ease the tension. It’s a good thing my day was schedule to
start at noon, so l just laid in bed to rest. I saw a squirrel run into my tent door and
took a peek and then ran off, it was pretty cute, same family as a rat, but way more cute.
It is a bit grey and hazy today, breezy too. It is warm too without the wind. It is warm in the tent too, the sleeping bag was unnecessary. Felt good to listen to nature and
meditate. I wondered if sometime in the
past I had such a thought that landed me here at this time, “It’s okay, I don’t
mind too much that the Saha world is a pain.
I will stay focused on the tasks at hand. Bring it on!”
What was I thinking?
The campground looked empty again. People stay here for a night or two and then
move on. At 9am service crew came by to
check bear bins, fire pit, do restrooms, and maintenance up keep.
I decided to sit in my car and look at the beautiful
scenery, totally protected from mosquitoes to enjoy my tea. My site has the best views of the mountains. As I took in the beauty I reflected on how I
used my voice. My heart speaks in my
prayers and transference for peace and healing of everything and everyone. I used my voice through my hands and feet in
service of benefiting others to help them along their journey.
Super windy, so I cooked in the restroom using the
induction stove. I made soup with
carrots and cabbages in Bagute spice pouch.
I cooked quinoa and soba too.
I met a Southern German couple rolling in an RV, Hilgda
and Siegfre. They were sweet and
friendly. They picked the campsite next
to mine. They had just arrived from West
side of Glacier National Park. They left
at 7:30am and it was 90 miles of driving.
I showed them my photos of the east side and recommended where they
should go on this side. Time flew and it
was already 1:13pm, I cleaned up camp and made Darjeerling tea and rolled off
at 2pm.
I went to Jackson Glacier Point and it was 2:23pm when I parked my car. I parked next to Jeremy Wei from Washington, he is a park ranger in his twenties. It is rare to come across a young Asian male park ranger. It’s as rare as spotting a young Asian male monastic. Because it is so rare, it felt really special. Jeremy was busy helping a tourist so I ran up the road to make up for the lost time. I wondered if it was important for me to chat and interact with him. He reminded me of my friend Richy, once an artist, now with a desk job.
I went to Jackson Glacier Point and it was 2:23pm when I parked my car. I parked next to Jeremy Wei from Washington, he is a park ranger in his twenties. It is rare to come across a young Asian male park ranger. It’s as rare as spotting a young Asian male monastic. Because it is so rare, it felt really special. Jeremy was busy helping a tourist so I ran up the road to make up for the lost time. I wondered if it was important for me to chat and interact with him. He reminded me of my friend Richy, once an artist, now with a desk job.
I rushed and ran on the incline mountain road. I don’t even know how I managed to run but I
had zeal underneath my feet. I started
with a fantasy scenario in my head of having just escaped from the near death
of falling in to a crevasse. I imaged I
was ten times stronger, flexible, and agile in grace and ease than I truly am
physically. It’s a fantasy so I can do
anything and be anything. I felt good
that way today. Yes, I just chose to
ignore the pains from the injuries.
Somehow the pain is just too hard to ignore at night, it burns, numbs,
screams, “What have you done! Why do you
do this to me? What is your
problem? Why don’t you learn? Why don’t you listen to my communication? ” 
The waterfalls, cascades from the snow melt were clear,
clean and amazing. The cold breeze from
the melting snow was chilly. I
hiked in sleeveless top because I was still hot from yesterday’s heat. Then it sprinkled and then it rained. I see why I had to rush and saw I had to
start my trail no later than 2pm. I was
in down pour the last 15 minutes of my hike.
It actually felt great to hike in the rain.
I spotted a fly upside down with wings soaked in a puddle
of rain. I tried to rescue it without
killing or hurting it with two rocks to pick it up but I ended up dropping it
somehow back onto the puddle. I decided
to use my fingers to pick him up and put him underneath a plant so he can dry
up. Hopefully I didn’t damage his wings
when I dropped him. This was the most
adventurous part of my walk.
I came across Jeremy the Asian ranger towards the end of
my hike. I waved at him and initiated
the conversation. He stopped and asked
how I was doing. I told him I was
great. He mentioned the subject of
rain. I said, “This is not rain, just
sprinkles.” He then vented on a family
back in the parking lot and who was really upset about the rain ruining their
entire vacation as if the ranger had to fix the rain to save their vacation. I responded, “Well then, they are not really
on a vacation then.” I shared with him
that the walk felt much shorter than I thought, it sure wasn’t four miles. He said they moved the block off closer to
the trail head because of avalanche danger.
I responded cheerfully, “Well, I would rather be alive.” As we parted, I felt great he had the zeal
and enjoyed what he does for the park and for the visitors. I hope that he recovers from getting dumped
on by the visitors’ frustration of Logan Pass closure for safety reasons and
the rain. Honestly without the rain,
there would be no amazing clouds and rainbows to decorate the spectacular
sky. Plus my car is getting a nature
wash and so is my tent, totally awesome!
The smell of the rain is so
wonderful.
At 4pm, I sat in the car, had two croissants with chocolate
spread and blueberry jam. I sat in the
car for an hour to wait for the rain to lighten up for a safer mountain drive
back to camp. It didn’t lighten up. People continued to come and continued to
walk in the rain with pancho. I rolled
off at 5:20pm singing, “I need to pee”.
I needed to pee an hour ago but I waited for the rain to ease up. I ran for the restroom when I got back to
camp.
I felt immensely fatigued, I needed a nap. I laid on my hammock. With all the moisture in the air, it was most
likely the best time to be on the hammock, the mosquitoes are hiding from the
rain. My hands began to freeze at 6pm
and I went into my tent to warm up, the rain then down poured. What good timing to have avoided the downpour on the hammock.
I laid in the tent and pulled the covers on. It was then that I realized where I felt the fatigue, it was in my head. The points were; choking around the neck,
blockage at the left front side above temporal point, two inches above point of
ear, and thymus. At 6:45pm I felt something
repel off. It was like a dental x-ray
weight cover that flung off. I then
opened my eyes and I felt wide awake, rested.
The rain down poured.
Tonight was the Two Medicine Indigenous performance at
St. Mary’s Visitor Center. I arrived at
7:25pm. I came across Ranger Austin who
was by the door checking tickets. I
didn’t know tickets were required. I
went to the bookstore to buy my ticket.
All the good seat were gone. I
saw B3 as the place to be. Row A is
reserved. As I approached my seat, I
noticed it was right next to the drummer and singers. As it turns out they are the ones I heard on
the radio driving into the park.
The ranger at the desk flagged me down and it was the
same ranger I saw last night. I didn’t
recognize him tonight. He wore a totally
different energy. He didn’t look like
the back country hitch hiker grassroots activist with fatigued soul. Tonight he stood as a distinguished gentleman
of greatness ready to connect and communicate.
He flagged me down to inquire what I thought of Cut Bank, a place he
recommended for me to hike on. I told him I
haven’t been because of the rain. He
curiously wanted to know what I did today.
He was very helpful in informing me of the weather for tomorrow and
reminded me that Grizzly Lake is a strenuous hike in snow. I assured him that I will exercise safety, I
will hike until I can’t and turn around.
As I head for the theatre doors, I saw a young man
preparing for his performance. He too
had the spiritual force when he is suited up and getting ready for the
zone. The singers, dancers, drummers
were all beautiful and preformed with dignity and respect that honored their
tradition. I find lawyer Elder Joe, kind
hearted and he added the cheeky circus show as the MC with his side
comments. He turned something sacred,
spiritual into a circus show act. I find
this aspect of the performance can use improvement. I wondered
how he valued his tradition. I wondered
how he thought about us, the audience and our capacity to connect with his
sacred tradition.
The last dance was a group dance and I joined in, we held
hands and stomped in a circle. It was a
victory dance done by women as their men came home. I joined in because I wanted to celebrate
strength and success. I watched Ranger
Austin and Jeremy in the circle, as rangers they held their strong leadership, ruler of guidance and protection. As
guests in the circle, their kindred souls shined, their pure innocent spirits
come forth. I saw the cultivator, the
monastic healthy within them.
After the show I dashed for the showers. I had to rush, I had 7 minutes and it was a
sloppy wash, when I was done I still had soap on me, I guess this is camp clean for
tonight. I had to rush out as the staff
was politely waiting for me to exit to close and lock up so he can sleep, so he can
call it a night.
I made it back to camp and I noticed all the sites were
full. My tent was covered in rain and I
did a shake to shake off the rain. The
rain down poured again at 11pm.
