Backpack - Summerland, Panhandle Gap & Indian Bar

We will coordinate carpools and arrange for a vehicle (or 2-3 depending on size of the roster) to be left  at Box Canyon while the drivers are shuttled back to the Fryingpan Creek trailhead for the start of the trip.  We will try to start on the trail by no later than 11AM. At the end of the second day we will arrive at Box Canyon and shuttle back to Fryingpan Creek TH to pick up the other car.

This section of the Wonderland trail around Mt Rainier includes camps at two of the leader's favorite locations on the entire trail, at Summerland and at Indian Bar.  We get up close and personal with the mountain, cross one of the highest passes on the Wonderland, and wander down an incredibly scenic long ridge with views forever to the mountain and terrain south and east.  The backpacking days are:

1.  Fryingpan Creek to Indian Bar Camp:   8.4 miles, 3512' gain, 4100' loss

2.  Indian Bar Camp to Box Canyon parking lot:  7.2 miles, 1515' gain, 3521' loss

We will move steadily at a 2mph pace during the day, with occasional rest stops and some exploring up and down ridges after arriving at camp if time and energy allow.  It'll be coming into the shoulder season so foliage color should be spectacular and we may hear elk bugling.  But the weather could change fast, so everyone will need to be experienced with difficult wet and cold weather and demonstrate that they have the gear to stay safe and comfortable in those conditions.  If conditions are truly miserable the trip may have to be canceled, or could be moved to Chinook Pass-to-Basin Lake.

Leader permission is required and each applicant should include the details of their recent (2024 season) backpacking trips including length, elevation gain and loss, and pace when they request permission.