Summerland - Panhandle Gap — Thursday, Jul. 2, 2015

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

Parked the car around 9 am, but perhaps I should have started a few hours earlier. While I was putting my hiking shoes on, the sweat already started. That should have been a clue. The first few miles didn’t feel too bad since there was plenty of shade. By the time I got to the Fryingpan Creek crossing, however, I reeked. Oh well, came too far to turn back now. And I knew there were not too many switchbacks up to the meadows. The wildflower show in the meadows made all the sweat worth it. Chose to enjoy the view from the shade, eat lunch, relax, and cool down instead of hiking up further to Panhandle Gap. Saw several marmots, but no mountain goats. The hike back seemed strangely longer, probably because of the heat. Went through three liters of water today - bringing one more would have probably been better.