Summerland, Summerland - Panhandle Gap

I don't go to Mt. Rainier very often; if I want the National Park experience it's easier for me to go to North Cascades. But I've always been intrigued by "Summerland" - the name makes it sound like a place ya just gotta visit in the summer!

We got to the trailhead early because it was a get-into-National-Parks-free day, trailhead parking is scarce, and it was supposed to be quite hot. We got one of the last parking spots and headed up. The early start, hiking mostly in forest and the shade of a ridge, and cool breezes kept us from getting too warm.

It's been my experience that trails in National Parks are generally quite nice - wide, soft, and gently graded - and the Wonderland Trail to Summerland is no exception. Some switchbacks near the end of the trail gave us some exercise but the trail is pretty easy.

After lunch we decided to continue following the Wonderland Trail to Panhandle Gap, another 1.4 miles and 1000 feet elevation gain. The trail is rougher - we were on rocks, gravel and snow most of the way. There is a "traverse of doom" snowfield at the top that is not for the fainthearted or vertigo-challenged.

At the Gap, and throughout the hike, views abounded under a cloudless sky. Use lots of sunscreen! Bugs were moderate, wildflowers were plentiful. We also saw marmots (including the biggest, fattest one I'd ever seen), mountain goats, and a family of black bears. Also lots of chipmunks at Summerland; they're pretty aggressive beggars - don't feed them! Not surprisingly I guess, these animals are unafraid of people. The bear family was placidly feeding about 30 yards from, and ignoring, a whole crowd of people talking and taking pictures.

On the way back down we ran into many other hikers; don't look for solitude here at this time of year. Many people were bringing children up to Summerland but I wouldn't recommend bringing them much further above Summerland.