Wonderland Trail – Fryingpan Creek to Box Canyon

Jay Adventure!, Day Hiking, Mount Rainier , , , , , , , 4 Comments

On the last day of August this year, my friend Cheryl and I trying to finish up what we have left of the Wonderland trail, decided to dayhike the portion between Fryingpan Creek and Box Canyon. It was a great day. We saw a bear, goats and territory neither of us had hiked before.

All we have left now is the section between Box Canyon and Longmire.

Start of the day
First views
Yogi was there.
He didn't even know we were there
Just keep eating those berries!
He couldn't have cared less about us. Still, we were somewhat relieved the trees were between him and us. He was really close to us. Cheryl was not happy!
First views from Summerland
Just above Summerland camp, you are greeted by this waterfall
The large basin below Panhandle Gap
The large basin below Panhandle Gap
Some hikers at Panhandle Gap silhouetted against the sky.
This part of the trail looks like it is snow covered most of the year.
Snow lasts well into September at Panhandle Gap
Just below Panhandle Gap
The welcoming commitee at Panhandle Gap
Handsome critters
The trail heading South towards Indian Bar from Panhandle Gap
The view to the west from Panhandle Gap. The ridge here leads directly up to Little Tahoma Peak which is the point just visible to the left of Rainier itself.
Panhandle Gap panorama.
A large group of mountain goats could be seen on the mountainside.
Some of the first fall colors we saw on the trail in Ohanapecosh Park.
Hikers on a patch of snow in the distance
I saw this little snow tunnel and went off trail a bit to investigate. Wasn't much to see really.
The Goat Rocks and Mt Adams in the distance. Indian Bar in the valley below.
The Goat Rocks and hikers on the trail winding down to Indian Bar
The headwaters of the Ohanapecosh River and what is left of the Ohanapecosh glacier.
The headwaters of the Ohanapecosh River and what is left of the Ohanapecosh glacier.
Panorama of what is left of the Ohanapecosh Glacier with the Ohanapecosh river flowing out. Indian Bar shelter is down in the valley below just out of the frame.
I just liked this ridge with the trees on the south side and bare on the north. This was along the trail going down towards Indian Bar.
Mountain Gentian. Also known to hikers as the farewell to summer flower
Just before we got to Indian Bar, we found the best patch of huckleberries we had seen all day. We stopped for an hour or so to pick some to take home.
The shelter at Indian Bar. There was a hoarde of people hanging out there so we ate our lunch near the bridge instead.
The view we had from our lunch spot.
Looking back at Indian Bar as we hiked out
Another look back
These lupine were still hanging on despite how late in the season it was.
Nice view of Mt Adams on this lovely stretch just before the Cowlitz Divide portion of the trip.
Nice view of Mt Adams on this lovely stretch just before the Cowlitz Divide portion of the trip.
High on the Cowlitz Divide, the views were spectacular!
Along the Cowlitz Divide. The views were nice, but there were a lot more up and downs than we were mentally prepared for.
End of the trail for us today. This is the Box Canyon trailhead. Its a great dayhike if you can manage a car shuttle or key exchange.
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Proceed to Wonderland Trail – Box Canyon to Longmire
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