Today is the day we've been looking forwards to and dreading as we go over Panhandle Gap and traverse the high ground to Indian Bar and the Cowlitz Divide... with about 9 of the 11.5 miles being in snow.
It was a very cold night (around freezing - Summerland is at 5900 feet). Not good as all the snow froze and a slip becomes much more dangerous on icy snow.
This is about the only stretch of trail we will see for quite some time today.