Summerland - Panhandle Gap — Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

Arrived at the trailhead around 11 am and had to park a ways down the road. The first few miles of this trail are mostly flat, with very few rocks. Great for tired feet on the way back! Lots of people on the trail today. The trail steepens a bit about a mile before Summerland. I took a quick snack break at Summerland, then continued the two more miles to Panhandle Gap. The clouds held off long enough today for me to make up to the Gap with views the whole way. If you are planning a hike to Summerland, I highly recommend continuing on to Panhandle Gap if you have the time and energy. Once out of Summerland, you leave the vegetation zone and enter a moonscape. There are rivers, cascades, tarns, and beautiful views of the mountain and Emmons Glacier. Then from Panhandle Gap, you can see south to Adams and Hood. The extra two miles is totally worth it! Didn't see any wildlife. The wildflowers are a bit past their prime, but some are still blooming.