8/17, Saturday. Up at 6am, left home at 6:30am. At this hour, the road is clear. We stopped for gas in Auburn. All smooth. Reached the gate ~8:20. Used restroom. Summerland is maybe my favorite trail in Rainier, but it's very popular. With this timed entry system, it doesn't feel as busy as before. Panhandle River TH parking was practically full. Even saw 2 cars double parked. Squeezed into the end of the line. Started hiking before 9am.
This weekend is already past the prime bloom at Summerland. But it's still lovely.
I can always count on this aster+fireweed patch before the bridge, and the monkey flowers along the creeks.
A lot more gentian today.
However, the air smells smoke.
As we entered Summerland, it started to rain. Thankfully, only a few sprinkles, and diminished the smoke smell.
Stopped to fill my Sawyer squeeze bag from a creek lined with monkey flowers.
Going up to Panhandle Gap. A lot of water. Rockier, but still some flowers, bright green moss.
Saw elephant's head, and larkspur.
I really like the area near this pond.
Had an early lunch at Panhandle Gap. Only 2 other parties of 2 here. Hazy (smokey) to the east. Could barely make out Mount Adams.
No sheep.
Continued on to Sarvent area. Traverse on a slope (going down a bit) of asters.
Then going up a gentle slope towards Banshee Peak.
Surprised to see more than usual flowers.
Especially harebells in the grass and buckwheat on seemly bare ground. Even some leftover lupine.
A lot of bistort.
Fished my lunch at the peak.
Looking down at the blue pond and Sarvent Glacier.
Going back, had a break at this spot (most flowers on Sarvent Mountain).
Found a small group of Chinese wondering why they were here.
Then a swim at the pond below Panhandle Gap. I only dipped my feet in the cold water.
At Summerland, met a group of ~10 climbers coming back from Whitman Crest.
Got back to the car around 5pm. Picked some Bolete on the forest floor. Stopped for beer at Elumclaw. Back in Seattle ~7pm. A lovely day.
Thanks to the newly instituted time entry ticket, it was a better experience. No crowd. Thanks to the clouds, it wasn't too smokey or hot. Otherwise, 13 miles is no joke if the air were bad.
