I woke up exactly seven minutes before the rain came pouring down on me. It was 4:55 a.m. and I had just enough time to pack up all my belongings and get on with my morning hike. Cold and wet... I started my three-breath-yawns and felt my eyes rolling to the back of my head and closing on me as I inched up a six mile incline. Full exhaustion. I contemplated walking back to the road and spending another day in Bonners Ferry... Oh, the thought of a warm blanket while watching daytime soap operas never sounded so good. The rain subsided by 8:30 and I was ready for a morning nap in the middle of the trail. It's important to listen to your body and take a break here or there to keep your spirits high. I warmed up a pot of hot chocolate and was greeted by the sun. I can do this... One foot in front of the other... This is what I signed up for.

What a beautiful day it turned out to be. Near the top of Parker Peak, I took a lovely lunch break to dry out my socks and munch down on a cheese and chip burrito. What do you know, a giant grey-white humped beast visited me... This was no moose, no elk, no dear... It could only be a caribou and just 100 feet from my rest spot! No photos for proof, but I know what I saw and relished in its company.

The hike ended at the gorgeous Pyramid Lake campground. All alone, I was as happy as a reindeer... Part of me wished I could have shared the day with a companion, but a larger part of me felt proud and accomplished to have pulled through on such a high note.