Thom and I decided to give Summerland/Panhandle Gap and beyond a shot even though it was rumored to still have plenty of snow past Summerland.
North trail towards Summerland.
Trail to Panhandle gap.
Trail beyond Panhandle Gap.
Got a pretty early start but still found only a couple of spots left in the actual trailhead parking area.
Fryingpan Creek trailhead parking. One of the last few spots.
A little before 8AM we were on the trail. The first mile or so is very gentle and a nice warmup.
Starting up the trail to Summerland and beyond.
Lower trail to Summerland.
Early views from lower trail to Summerland.
Waterfall off lower trail to Summerland.
Waterfalls across the way on trail to Summerland.
Early views from lower trail to Summerland.
In about 3 1/2 miles cross Fryinpan Creek on a railed footlog.
Thom crossing log bridge over Fryingpan creek.
Bridge over Fryingpan creek.
Fryingpan creek.
Just past the bridge some more open flower areas and views of Rainier start to appear up the valley.
Flowers on trail to Summerland.
Views towards Rainier on trail to Summerland.
Flowers on trail to Summerland.
Little Tahoma on trail to Summerland.
Zoom of Little Tahoma on trail to Summerland.
Views towards Rainier on trail to Summerland.
Zoom of Rainier on trail to Summerland before switchbacks.
Goat flats ridge from trail to Summerland.
After about 1/3 of a mile or so of the easier walking you take a hard left and begin a .6 miles gaining 460 feet section of switchbacks up into Summerland.
Flowers on trail to Summerland.
Flowers on trail to Summerland.
The last swing around and you enter the flower meadows of Summerland.
Views nearing Summerland.
Entering Summerland.
Lupine and pipe cleaners in Summerland.
Views from Summerland.
Thom and flowers in Summerland.
Views from Summerland.
We checked out a view near the group campsite before heading up.
Views from Summerland.
Views from near group shelter in Summerland.
Group shelter in Summerland.
A nice creek and flower show just above Summerland before hitting the rocks on the way to Panhandle Gap.
Views from Summerland.
Views from Summerland.
Flowers in creek in Summerland.
Flowers in creek in Summerland.
Flowers in creek in Summerland.
We started the climb/transition onto the more pure rocky (and/or snowy sections). Saw a marmot or 2 along the way.
Marmot above Summerland.
Marmot above Summerland.
Marmot above Summerland.
We soon hit the first in a series of snow patches.
Heading into first snow above Summerland.
Snow crossing above Summerland.
Thom crossing snow on way to Panhandle Gap.
The log bridge is in and snow increases in frequency a little ways across.
Log bridge is in to Panhandle Gap.
Thom crossing log bridge on way to Panhandle Gap.
Views on way to Panhandle Gap.
Snow squeezing trail on way to Panhandle Gap.
Views from trail to Panhandle Gap.
Views from trail to Panhandle Gap.
Caught site of someone going up the gap.
Someone going up snow traverse to Panhandle Gap.
Passed a few partially frozen tarns.
Tarn on way to Panhandle Gap.
Views from trail to Panhandle Gap.
Views on trail to Panhandle Gap.
A few more snowfields and climbing and we arrived at the base of the infamous traverse.
Thom crossing snow on trail to Panhandle Gap.
The final snowy traversing trail to Panhandle Gap.
Someone heading up Panhandle Gap.
Lady freezes on Panhandle Gap. No poles, no nuthin.
There was some traffic on the traverse so we skipped over to the left to check out views on the other side. This could also be a bypass route, scrambling over and back down the knob. We saw a herd of maybe 30 goats in the distance.
Views from near Panhandle Gap.
Views from spot left of trail near Panhandle Gap.
Goats across from spot near Panhandle Gap.
Goats far far away at maximum zoom.
Goats far far away at maximum zoom.
Meanwhile the lady and guy she was with finally got off the traverse. She had kind of froze on there until someone loaned here a trekking pole.
The "couple" finally off Panhandle Gap with the lady that froze after someone loaned her a pole. Wonder what that conversation will be like on the way home.
Now the traffic was gone it was time to cross. The boot buckets were pretty good. We had on spikes just for added confidence and used poles. Midway across I discovered I wanted to shorten my uphill pole which made it a lot easier.
Thom coming up Panhandle Gap.
It wasn't nearly as harrowing as I thought it might be. The nice boot buckets and softer snow helped greatly. The one spot in the middle where the rocks are starting to be exposed required some thinking as punching through will become more of a problem. I semi punched at one spot but not very far.
Some quick picture stops before proceeding down the other side.
Views from Panhandle Gap.
Views from popular hang out rocks above Panhandle Gap.
Views from Panhandle Gap.
Views from Panhandle Gap.
Views from Panhandle Gap.
We started down. The crowds for now became non existent.
Views down from Panhandle Gap.
Goats still around in the distance.
Very hazy Mt. Adams from below Panhandle Gap.
Views heading down other side of Panhandle Gap.
Views heading down other side of Panhandle Gap.
Lupine on other side of Panhandle Gap.
Various relatively easy snowfield were crossed. In fact it seemed to be at least about 50/50 on the bare ground/snow distribution.
Lupine and Paintbrush on other side of Panhandle Gap.
Lupine on other side of Panhandle Gap.
Snowy way beyond Panhandle Gap on Wonderland trail.
A ways down is a short but steep section that did have some boot prints but not as nice as those on the gap.
Another steepish but short snow crossing/traverse.
Another steepish but short snow crossing/traverse.
Thom coming up snow slope.
Once atop the trail descended a little more.
Views from beyond Panhandle Gap.
Views from beyond Panhandle Gap.
Views from beyond Panhandle Gap.
Ran into part of the trail over a creek with a soon failing snow bridge.
Bad snow bridge about to break beyond Panhandle Gap.
Bypassing snow bridge.
We got a little off track to the left and decided to just backtrack to a nice rock for lunch as it was getting time to head back anyway. We started to see more people trying to figure out the route and negotiate another snow bump.
People coming up from our lunch spot.
People coming up from our lunch spot.
People continuing on vague route from our lunch spot.
A few lunch spot panos and a video. Our lunch spot was about 1 1/4 miles from Panhandle Gap.
Pano1 from lunch spot.
Pano2 from lunch spot.
After lunch we packed up and headed back towards the gap. The short steep section was a little more interesting coming down but no real issues.
Snowfield on way back from Panhandle Gap.
Thom coming down short steep section.
Views heading back towards Panhandle Gap.
We stopped to filter water at a perfect creek for doing so. Crystal clear, coming right off melting snow, and above the trail.
Water filter spot on way back to Panhandle Gap.
Views heading back towards Panhandle Gap.
Watching someone else on steep snow field.
We soon made it back to the gap.
Goats in the distance.
Goats in the distance.
Almost back to Panhandle Gap.
Back at the gap I took a couple of panos I forgot on the way out.
Pano1 from Panhandle Gap.
Pano2 from Panhandle Gap.
Thom just below Panhandle Gap.
It was time to descend. We waited for a traffic gap and made it down in short order without difficulties with poles and spikes.
People coming up over Panhandle Gap.
View from Panhandle Gap.
People coming up Panhandle Gap.
People coming up Panhandle Gap.
Looking down below Panhandle Gap.
Thom almost off Panhandle Gap snowfield.
Me coming down Panhandle Gap.
We made way down the rest of the way towards the log bridge running into various people along the way.
Thom coming down another snowfield on way back to Summerland.
Views heading back to Summerland.
Views heading back to Summerland.
Views heading back to Summerland.
By one of the tarns someone was walking out there.
Darwin Award nominee standing on thawing tarn.
People were wading in the other one more thawed.
People wading in one of the tarns.
Tarn above Summerland.
Looking back up towards Panhandle Gap.
Back at the log bridge people were now laying out in the sun.
Log crossing above Summerland. Note sunbathers.
Creek under snow near log crossing above Summerland.
Log crossing above Summerland. Note sunbathers.
A few nice waterfalls just above Summerland.
Watefall above Summerland.
Watefall above Summerland.
Views above Summerland.
Views above Summerland.
Views above Summerland.
A few hops, skips and jumps and we were out of the snow and near Summerland.
Thom heading back to Summerland.
Almost back to Summerland.
Almost back to Summerland.
Almost back to Summerland.
Back in Summerland.
Summerland meadows.
Yes the flowers were still there in Summerland.
Flowers in Summerland.
Flowers in Summerland.
Flowers in Summerland.
Flowers in Summerland.
We started to head back down.
Thom heading down from Summerland.
Views towards Goat flats from Summerland.
Flowers below Summerland.
Flowers below Summerland.
Back at the bottom of the switchbacks we decided to stop for a brief snack before making the last 3 3/4 miles or so back to the trailhead.
We happened to notice a Marmot on logs who seemed to be posing for the camera.
Snack stop above Fryingpan Creek on way back.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
Marmot below Summerland switchbacks.
After the snack we made good time back to the car stopping for the occasional photo.
Flowers below Summerland.
Thom heading through flower fields below Summerland.
Thom crossing bridge across Fryingpan Creek.
Views on way back down. Might be Tamanos ridge.
Fryingpan Creek.
Chipmunk on snag.
After about 9 1/2 hours car to car we were indeed back at the car after a very varied and enjoyable day on the trail. Everything from nice forest trails, to rocky scree to snow travel. A little of everything.
did we punch the submit button at the EXACT same moment?
No yours posted at 10:11 and mine 8 minutes later at 10:19 but close.
Being deeply in the bowels of putting mine together though I wouldn't have noticed yours before I hit submit on mine.
Good job guys! So those people had not even a backpack? That's crazy!
I suspect some of those might have been camping at Summerland and maybe just wandering around during the day but who knows.
The group camp had some people smoking so we didn't hang around too long looking around there.
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