Mount Rainier National Park
Wonderland Trail to Panhandle Gap & Indian Bar
From Summerland Meadows
The high point on the Wonderland Trail is Panhandle Gap. Most of the elevation change occurs within the first four miles to Summerland Meadows, then the trail opens up as you walk through the meadows to Panhandle Gap and across the ridge to Indian Bar (20 miles return, 2900ft)
Panhandle Gap
Indian Bar was a good turnaround lunch spot. Arrive early at the Fryingpan creek parking lot as parking is limited in the area. If transportation can be arranged it would be possible to do a one-way 17 mile hike to the Box Canyon parking lot.
|
|
Indian Bar
|
|
Glacier Basin
Glacial Lake on the side trail to Emmons Glacier
Ben and I did a short overnight walk to Glacier Basin from the White River Campground in August 2017 (6 miles return, 1500ft gain)
The Inter Fork creek level was low so we found a way back to the Glacier Basin trail through to the trees
After reaching camp (brown lake below), we climbed off trail looking for a way to summit Burroughs mountain
Ridgeline above Glacier basin looking out towards The Wedge
We climbed to the top near a spot called St Elmo Pass on the park map
The view from the summit is probably my favorite in the park
Glacier Basin Camp
Sunrise on Mount Ruth with the tip of Rainier visible from our camp at Glacier Basin