The Ledge That Broke My Hiking Confidence

Everyone warned me about Glacier's crowds. No one mentioned the ledge. Ten feet wide. A thousand-foot drop. The Highline Trail turns from postcard-perfect to gut-churning in exactly 0.2 miles. I've done harder hikes, longer distances, steeper climbs. But something about that narrow shelf carved into Going-to-the-Sun Mountain made my legs forget how to work. I watched other hikers glide past like it was nothing. Families with kids. A woman in flip-flops. Meanwhile, I'm pressed against the rock wall, questioning every life choice that led me here. The views were incredible. Instagram would've loved it. But I spent most of the trail staring at my feet, not the scenery. Sometimes the mountain wins before you even start climbing. #Travel #HikingTruth #GlacierReality