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Day 8 (Sun, 8/3).  Summerland to Indian Bar (5064 ft elev).    Backpacked 4.50 miles with 1420 ft gain / 2314 ft loss.
a.  Sarvant Glaciers / Cowlitz Chimneys Day Hike (En Route).   4 miles with 3025 ft gain/loss.

Looked like everybody rested well and started early.    Time to leave the comfortable Cabin.   All left the Cabin before 0610.    I was the last one to leave at 0620.    I was looking forward to walking on the high country trail, seeing the infamous Panhandle Gap, and a side trip to Cowlitz Chimneys.   There were most snow between Panhandle Gap and the ridge above the Indian Bar during our 15 days.   But we did not need foot tractions.

Trail going up to Panhandle Gap was well defined and established.   I met a guy who was doing a research on Mt Rainier Butterflies (check Mt Rainer or Cascade Butterfly on Google).   He was carrying some big packs, probably some equipment in the pack.   There were almost no trees as it's a high country and snow were all gone except near the Pan Handle Gap.    Rod & Dave made some phone calls at the Pan Handle Gap !  Had 2 bars on AT&T but it was intermittent.    Dropped my pack at the Gap at 0830 and headed to Cowlitz Chimneys.    Bill was waiting for me.   Everybody else except Dave was already headed up.   Its rectangular shape did look like a Chimney.     Trail was well defined to about half way, then sort of walked on a fragile meadow.      At the Chimneys,  the surrounding views were again spectacular.   The Chimneys on the East side were vertical cliffs.    Bill used his binocular to find a bunch of mountain goats.   My picture turned out pretty good that captured 10 -12 mountain goats.  We also saw a herd of Elks looking toward the ridge to Indian Bar.

Back at the Panhandle Gap waiting for Bill,  I met a trail runner.  I helped her to take a picture.   She was doing the Wonderland Trail in 3 days (Longmire,  Mowich Lake, White River, & Longmire).  She was finishing up the loop at Longmire.   She said that her partner dropped out at White River.    she also mentioned that she never hiked Wonderland trail until this trip but climbed the Mt Rainier 12 times !   No doubt that she was a good athlete and in an excellent shape.   Later on day 11,  I met another trail runner at the Emerald Ridge who was also doing the loop in 3 days but in counter clockwise.    That's quite incredible achievement.    (I would try a long day like 30 miles but I would not try trail running.  It's probably bad for the body for my age in the long term.)

Starting to traverse from Panhandle Gap to the Ridge above Indian Bar.   I met a guy who just dayhiked to Indian Bar and heading back to White River.   It's close to 18-20 miles of dayhike.  He looked calm and relaxed.   While continuing to traverse,   came across  a creek.    I think it might be the place or near the area where a 64 year old was missing after key swapping with his son about 2-3 weeks earlier.    Never found his body yet.   He was presumed dead after falling into  the snow bridge around the area.     I could see that the place could be very dangerous if there was snow bridges.

Going down the ridge was fun.  We could see the Indian Bar Cabin in the pasture in the distance.    Met a few backpacking parties going up.  It's quite steep hill for them but a wonderful trail with some views.   When reached at the basin,  trail remained on the East shouldering the creek banks.   Looking at the Indian Bar across the creek,  the cabin looked so beautiful in the pasture.     I just could not believe that we got to spend a night in the cabin.   Amazingly,  it had 6 bund beds ready.   Just needed a mattress and a sleeping bag.    

Arrived at the Indian Bar quite early at 1430.   It was a quite hot day but was really cool inside the cabin.   Went to the river, washed up, and washed the shirt.   Nobody went to Cowlitz park for the side trip.  I opted not to go since there might not be trail (tired of bushwhacking at Goat Island Mt on the day before).     Had a good meal and went sleep early.   There was almost no bugs in the afternoon, then the bugs were coming around 1800.     I pitched my one person tent inside the Cabin.    Honestly,  it was probably healthier if slept outside as it was very dusty inside the Cabin.   My nose plugged up (with dust) really bad overnight.  But there was no pesky chipmunks or mousses.

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