5.2 miles, 2400' gain, 200' descent

I began tentatively, because my back had seized up the afternoon before my trip started. It felt looser today, but I needed that problem to stay gone for this trip to be a success. I was walking carefully up the wide trail through the first stretch of majestic forest, loosening things up, seeking my groove.

After crossing Fryingpan Creek, the forest opened up as I got my first views and first wildflowers. Also an ego-boosting comment from a pair of passing day hikers who encountered me sitting on a rock to eat lunch: "you look like something out of an REI advert, with that big pack surrounded by flowers and the mountain behind you".

Onto the switchbacks, I made quick work of the climb up to Summerland. Ah, Summerland. The name is romantic, and the place even more so. I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering lazily from meadow to meadow, enjoying the huge variety of views, flowers, changing light, friendly marmots and ground squirrels.