Wonderful 15 days on Wonderland Trail

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Day 6 (Fri, 8/1). Glacier Basin to Summerland (5980 ft elev). Backpacked 9.6 miles with 2804 ft gain and 2823 ft loss.

a. Picked up Food Cache # 1 at White River (En Route)

Woke up at 0300 and dozed off on & off, and got up at 0510. I was hungry, so had a big breakfast (Rice and Chicken. It's typically for dinner). I was the last one leaving the camp at 0640 heading down to White River Ranger Station for picking up food cache #1. Trail was sort of similar to Dossy trail (in the Olympics) along the river. All of us gathered and picked up our food cache #1 at White River Ranger Station. I learned that the White River had excellent car camp sites. From there, one can hike Inner Glacier, Burroughs Mt, Moraine trail, etc. Then, we headed for Summerland and needed to gain almost 2800 ft elev gain for the day.

After crossing the White River, the trail reminded me of the beginning of the Upper Dungeness Trail (In the Olympics). It was wider and easy to walk on. I took some self video shots and passed Dave & Bill to take some video shots. My energy level was not in superb condition but was in ok condition. Met a bunch of dayhikers and a couple of backpackers. Since there are so many people on the trail, I did not feel lonely. I felt like I am hiking on a local trail like the Green Mt trail in Kitsap county, but yet I am hauling a heavy pack and struggling. It's kinda interesting or may be awkward feeling seeing those dayhikers. It's trail is amazingly well constructed around the Mt Rainer, so its name of "Wonderland Trail" lives up to its name.

After the tree line, the trail gets steeper but with a shorter distance to the Summerland. The last mile was quite steep with its well constructed switchbacks. Near the top just before the Summerland, the switchbacks were fully loaded with the wild flowers. At the Summerland (arrived just before 1400), the little Tahoma and Mt Rainier were in clear sight. Surprisingly, the Group Camp Site was the Cabin ! And it was for 2 nights. Thunderstorm was forecasted overnight, so Linda's tarp was placed over the roof holes. Well, the thunderstorm did not come.

I wanted to do a side trip (a camp site to Little Tahoma climb) but my body did not support. I was a bit tired. I opted to take a break, washed up, and took some pictures at the Summerland pasture. A bunch of dayhikers visited the cabin and the view point (around the cabin). And the rangers (2 different) stopped by. No doubt that it's a popular dayhike destination.

While I was walking around the Summerland to take some pictures, I met the same 2 backpackers that we met at Inner Glacier hike the day before. One of them asked me if I lost my wallet and described its content (my wallet content: a green plastic from Sportman Warehouse, a couple of dollar bills, $5 bill, etc). He said he was asking since its picture was an Asian and thought about me since we met the day before at the Inner Glacier hike above the Glacier Basin Camp site where he found the wallet. I reached down on my pocket (that was secured with a Velcro) but my wallet was missing. He said he left the wallet in his car at White River Trailhead. He offered to mail it back to me. After some thought, I opted to hike and get it (about 8 miles with 2000 ft elev gain). Well, I got his car key and ready to leave. Before I leave, I was securing my belongings, and found my wallet. Earlier, I took out the things on my pants and washed it (for the first time). Then, I wore it to dry. I forgot about it. It was a huge relief that I did not have to go back to White River Trailhead. What an interesting encounter ! After that, I secured both wallet and car key in a safe place in my backpack. Thinking back, I was probably too tired and my thought processes were not functioning properly that I totally forgot about washing my pants.