[John Morrow]

Jake and Dave came from Leavenworth to meet me at Teanaway Junction. We opted to drive to the Beverly Trailhead, no snow in sight. We pretty much followed Ragman, Rodman, and BarbE's approach from a few days ago. Started on foot to the Beverly/Bean junction, turned up Bean, and proceeded on trail with patchy snow to the crossing of Bean Creek. It was a wet crossing for us in low cut hikers, but not challenging. More walking on patchy snow to the second south facing gully coming off of Judy Peak (directly above us to the north), skis on at approx. 4800 feet. From here we skinned on good firm snow along the open timbered rib that leads right up to the northwest ridge coming off Earl.

5000 ft. Bean Basin crossing

snowmobile tracks in Wilderness

NW Ridge

We were able to turn and skin without interruption to the summit by staying just below the crest of the northwest ridge. Soon there will be a short boot and carry the last 100 feet or so.

Dave

Close to top

last traverse

Jake to top

Arriving a 11:00 AM, we got carried away with the still warm summit air and lingered until noon, probably a mistake.

Bean Basin

Dave and Jake

Dave taking care of Biz

Ladybugs!

Still able to ski off of the summit (next weekend walk down through the rocks for 50 feet), starting down the first 15 turns were great with a half inch thaw on a lightly bumpy hard base.

SW ridge

Upper third

Dave entering

Jake descending

Then the middle third of the west slope was: sometimes stay on top, sometimes break through into the mush. We definitely lingered too long up top but it was so nice! The bottom third was six inch ski penetration in heavy, but consistent glop.

sloppy snow

bottom third

Dave

Those heading up the Teanaway in the near future: Get an early start. Back at 4800 feet we lounged beneath a grove of big ole' Douglas firs for another hour! Nothing wrong with that.

Hike out

Beverly trail crossing of Bean Cr.

Next weekend will probably be the last for the west slope without picking a route with traverses, but the south gully looks to solid snow to about 5200 feet as well. Bean basin looked plenty covered. Should be skiing by 5000 feet next weekend.