Summerland - Panhandle Gap

It may have been Friday but lots of people must have blown off work, because the trail was very busy to take advantage of the gorgeous day. The flowers at the Summerland meadow are still a ways from peaking; avalanche lilies along the switchback are lovely but are fading. There are some snowfields from Summerland up to Panhandle Gap but by late morning the snow was soft and they were easily negotiated. There is a snowbridge across the stream crossed right after you pass the shelter that is getting pretty dicey so be sure to follow the flagged route or cross below the snow.

Saw a couple of marmots and other hikers saw a herd of approx 30 goats on the ridge west of Panhandle Gap. A hiker scrambling up the ridge line scared them off before we arrived.

There are a couple of blowdowns (maybe a lightning strike?) in the woods early in the hike, one you can just step across but the other was tough to get under with a daypack and would probably require taking a large backpack off.