Summerland

Absolutely beautiful! The trail is in good shape, it's 4 feet wide dry and smooth to the main creek crossing.Two can walk abreast easily the whole way, which is a bit strange on a trail, I guess it's maintained that way due to heavy use. The bridges are in good shape. Above the creek crossing there is some rapidly melting snow patches on the switchbacks, not dangerous, none very large. Mud patches exist near the snow. The avalance lilies are in in full bloom on the hillside,in some places it is like a sea of lilies. THe summerland meadows are mostly snowfree, the marmots are very tame. We did not hike beyond summerland to the gap, but we could see people crossing a large snowfield to do so. I should note that the National Park day use fee has to be paid for this area,and the trailhead parking is restricted, no dogs are allowed, and portion of the road to Sunrise that goes along the White river is the bumpiest paved road I think I have ever been on. Nausea-inducing roller-coaster type bumpiness, not a problem for the car, mostly for the passengers. However, the jaw-dropping Mt. Ranier scenery makes up for all that.