[whitebark]

A loop hike was the order of the day. We wandered up the Beverly Creek Trail, followed the County Line Trail over to Volcanic Neck and beyond, crossed a steep pass to Bean Creek Basin, and returned to the trailhead via the Bean Creek Trail. The length of the loop was 9 miles with 3200 feet of gain. We found some decent weather in the Teanways on Monday, partly cloudy and cool. Recent rains had damped down the dust on the trails. Not a bug in sight anywhere. One lone coyote was howling up a storm in Bean Creek Meadows, providing an unearthly-sounding concert for us while we descended from the pass. The basin below Volcanic Neck was fully of marmots, who whistled frantically upon spotting an threatening alien creature (Lex the dog). There were flowers to be seen still, but no more strong shows of color in the meadows. Definitely an early fall feeling was in the air. Lex had a great time, too. He chased about 1000 ground squirrels, rolled in two kinds of poop, covered himself in dirt while digging a hole, then topped everthing off with a bath in a mud hole. The Beverly Creek Trail is in fine condition. Fresh tread work is evident. The County Line Trail has been badly damaged by horse use. Just ten years ago, this trail was so little used that it could be barely followed...not the case now! Beyond Volcanic Neck, there are no more horses and the trail becomes faint. Some greatly lonely campsites are to be found in the upper basin of Hardscrabble Creek. The Bean Creek trail is in good shape, but needs to be rerouted out of the meadows.

Meadow below volcanic neck

Mt Stuart

Volcanic Neck

Volcanic Neck saddle

Hardscrabble Basin

Lex takes a bath, Hardscrabble Ck Basin

Bean-Hardscrabble Saddle

Volcanic Neck

Bean-hardscrabble saddle

Little Annapurna