4.7 miles, 2100' gain, 1200' descent

7.6 miles including my Banshee Peak side trip

Today is my third time hiking through the absolute marvel of an area known as Ohanapecosh Park, and my first time going in this direction, which is uphill. What an uphill it is, with a brutal and seemingly endless series of steps carrying us up out of Indian Bar, past the cliffs and waterfalls that are the headwaters of the Ohanapecosh River, up into the subalpine and then the barren rocky alpine, to Panhandle Gap which is the highest point of the entire Wonderland Trail.

Yesterday was pretty, but today elevates that beauty into the realm of the incandescently sublime. Looking in front of me, the splendor almost hurts my eyes. Turning around to look behind, I can't decide whether to laugh or cry, it's all just so incredible. This place, right here, this is my church. My higher power. My soul.

As this was a short day, from Panhandle Gap I added in a few miles of side trip going even higher up Banshee Peak.

After a short descent from the gap, Summerland is a beautiful meadow in which to sit and enjoy dinner and watch the sunset and feel big feelings.