Full buses prompt first-time hitchhikers

Two longtime friends e-mailed me about their first experiences as hitchhikers. Delays and full transit buses turned a routine trip into a hitchhiking experience in Glacier National Park.   

The retired teachers in their 60s were anticipating riding the bus system in the Park. They were there at 10:30 a.m. waiting for the ride.

The duo enjoyed visiting tourists and watching the genial transit station host doing likewise while waiting for the bus. When the transit bus arrived the two went to board it and were informed they could not do so. The two ladies had not signed up for a ride nor were they informed it was necessary to register. They did not see any signs explaining the procedure. They promptly registered and waited for the next bus.

Finally, they boarded a bus for their trip to St. Mary. The driver would stop at every camp and designated area to open the door and inform waiting riders the bus was full. There were many frustrated visitors as they removed back packs and sat down on benches for another wait.

There was only a few minutes spent at Logan Pass waiting for the shuttle to St. Mary. That driver also stopped to tell tourists the shuttle was full.

Next disappointment was not having a shuttle at St. Mary to take them to Johnson Cafe for a late lunch. They could not walk that far.

The ladies decided to cross the road and try hitchhiking for a new adventure. A friendly lady driving an SUV stopped and took the new thumbers to the cafe. They split a hamburger, fries and huckleberry shake, topping it off with delicious bread pudding.

They visited with a couple from Chicago, finishing late lunch in the cafe. The visitors marveled at the beauty of Glacier Park and discussed hiking. The retirees told them of their plight and the Illinois couple offered them rides to the bus stop at St. Mary.    

The ladies were able to get on the bus when it arrived at St. Mary. The driver stopped at the first hiking area to tell eight people the bus was full. However, the hikers talked the driver into letting them on the bus for the ride to Logan Pass. The hikers sat in the aisle and apparently did not care pointed ends of hiking poles were poking riders in arms.

Next was a 15-minute wait at the top when riders could not board the bus.

One of the retired hitchhikers wrote affirmative action apparently kicked in. The twosome decided to stroll to the road and try hitchhiking once again. They felt very experienced and lucky when a couple from Minnesota with their 13-year old daughter stopped and picked them up.

The teenager was shocked when the two hitchhiking ladies said they were both retired schoolteachers. The driver confided it was first time he had ever picked up hitchhikers.

They rode to Avalanche Creek with the Minnesota visitors. Stop ended with a giggle when the retirees reminded the young girl to never pick up hitchhikers when she got her driver's license.

The teachers-turned-hitchhikers decided to walk to the transit stop. But then decided their individual thumbs worked so well they would try again.

They were successful as the first vehicle with a father and daughter stopped. They had climbed Mount Reynolds and were enroute home to the Flathead. This was also the first time that driver had picked up hitchhikers. He took them to their pickup in the bus parking lot.

Names of the hitchhikers will remain anonymous to protect the columnist.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.