Really gorgeous late summer day. Much warmer and no smoke haze despite the forecast. Arrived to the trailhead about 9:30 and the lot was full. Plenty spots still available along the roadside. Drivers should proceed slowly given folks walk along the roadside back to the trail head. Not sure what else I can add to the previous descriptions of this gorgeous hike. The trail is wide, pine needle lined, peaceful, serene and just lovely. Definitely a place to bring visitors to the area. We hiked to Summerland campground- didn’t proceed on to the Panhandle. The last quarter mile of switchbacks before the campground are intense. I hadn’t hiked for a couple weeks and it was a bit brutal. Any conditioned hiker could easily traverse them. The trail is impeccably groomed.
We had a sweet little lunch in the cool shade of the stone camping hut.
Oh, the pit-toilet - Ugh! Folks are not pressing the foot pedal after every use and closing the toilet lid. The smells are atrocious from outside the building. Press the pedal seven times and close the lid. We all got to do our part.
After lunch we proceeded up the grand staircase toward Panhandle. Didn’t go all the way. We hung around a bit by the bubbling stream. We saw a heard of goats high up on the mountain and I has happy to have my binoculars for a better view.
On the way back down we encountered several Wonderland hikers. One group on their first day. Another gal was on day nine and had two more nights to go. I congratulated her. Very impressive!
All in a gorgeous day.
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