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Wonderland Trail, Summerland - Panhandle Gap — Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020

Mount Rainier Area
Summerland

I did White River Campground to Box Canyon (20 miles) as part of a multi-day Wonderland trip with Aspire Adventure Running (which I highly recommend by the way!). 
White River is running really high to the point that although the log bridge is in, the water was covering 1/2 the bridge in the morning and most of it in the afternoon and I felt much safer taking the road detour around (about the same distance as the trail there). 

The snow has shrunk considerably on the approach up to Panhandle Gap and there were only two small snow fields to cross which both had good bootpack/tracks to follow. I was glad I had poles but did not need spikes or an axe. There is more snow once you are up on Panhandle Gap (see pics) but with poles and trail running shoes with good tread it was all no problem. 

Wildflowers are RIDICULOUSLY great. Lupines are so thick that the air smells like grape soda. Just don't stop... because mosquitos are HUNGRY. I sweated off my DEET and it was great motivation to keep moving. 

Ascending to Panhandle Gap
on top of the gap
Indian Bar
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