Summerland - Panhandle Gap — Friday, Jun. 28, 2024

Mountaineers trip to climb Banshee and Cowlitz Chimney. Trail is snow-free until reaching the switchbacks up to Summerland. The Frying Pan creek at 3.5 miles has diverted slightly, so the log bridge is not helpful. You can avoid fording by using a couple of thin, sketchy logs placed across the creek with rushing water beneath. Photos attached.

We were able to manage snow travel with mountaineering boots and trekking poles. We stopped briefly at the Summerland shelter. The trail is still visible in places, but eventually disappears higher up. The creek crossing above Summerland was manageable. Panhandle Gap is covered with snow, but the lake below is starting to appear. To climb Panhandle Gap, you should be comfortable with steep snow ascent and probably bring an ice axe. The rest of our trip was off-trail. Banshee is partially covered in snow, and the Cowlitz basin is all snow.