[wolfs]

There are at least some larch in Bean Basin proper. In the bowl just under Marys and Judys, within 500 vf of the crest. But it's true that there are not a whole lot of them. Over into the 4th creek or hardscrabble creek sides, on the north, you'd see greater concentrations. Still, all told it's one of the shorter trailhead drives to somewhere that you can see larch, and might be a little less snow than Ingalls.

[nojack]

Are the 4th creek larch stands 'more easily' accessed from Beverley (as compared to Bean)? I love that drainage and vista, but don't relish the idea of slip-sliding up the Bean basin with 'in-between' snow levels.

[Schroder]

The Teanaway will be a zoo this weekend - hunting opens Saturday.

[JPH]

Is the cutthroat pass a hunting area? Just wondering what level of flagging to put on my dog.

[Cyclopath]

Any thoughts on Iron/Bear Creek up to Teanaway Ridge and that knoll? You access it from a very short dirt road off 97, north of Mineral Springs. I did it in June of last year and saw a lot of larches from the top of the knoll. Not sure how much snow is out there, it could be bad avalanche country.

[Schroder]

[JPH]

Thanks!

[JimK]

If you go up to Iron Bear Pass/Peak you will see a number of hunters. Most use motorcycles. There are several big hunters camps along the Iron Creek Road. Wear lots of orange and you should be fine. There are larch trees along the trail beyond Iron Bear Peak under Jester Mountain. There is a whole forest of larch seen at a distance from Iron Bear Peak. Not a great larch hike but you will see them.

[Cyclopath]

I'm not in love with the idea of hiking around a bunch of motorcycles. It looks like I'll probably have social obligations Sunday evenings. Are there any shorter larch hikes? I can probably camp Saturday night to get an earlier start on the trail.

[n16ht5]

Any recommendations for a short jaunt in the Entiat for Larches? I can think of plenty of places that are full day hikes in like Pyramid, Duncan, Larch Lake, etc. but I am going to take my daughter and don't want to get too far in with the colder weather. Was thinking of heading up to Crow Hill or up the N Fork trail. I'll be camped there for the weekend.

[Bedivere]

Entiat has lots of larches but you have to get up high or you'll be spying them at a distance. Not sure how limited you are distance/elevation gain-wise with your daughter along but generally the larches don't appear 'til you're getting close to the ridgetops.

[JPH]

[cairn builder]

Where along 4th Creek are the golden trees? Anybody know the miles and elevation?

[silence]

RE: deer, elk and bear season I did some research after finding out that our planned backpack was going to be in the thick of it. While we've backpacked before during hunting season, these articles about it being a record year and recent TRs saying hunters were showing up in droves as early as last Thurs made us think it's not too safe to be out there right now, at least in the more heavily hunted zones ... like the Methow, Pasayten, Entiat and Teanaways Here's a list of dates and zones: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/summary_hunting_dates.html Not knowing the first thing about hunting I can't comment on how high they wander ... maybe someone else can? Plus with the FS campgrounds closed they might be forced to move higher along the trails just to camp. http://methowvalleynews.com/2013/10/09/small-staff-left-to-oversee-shuttered-usfs-facilities/ http://methowvalleynews.com/2013/10/09/buck-numbers-best-in-decades-for-season-opener-but-local-campsites-limited-by-government-shutdown/ BTW: WA hunters are REQUIRED to wear full orange garments ... so obviously hikers in some of these areas best do that too for their safety's sake. Anyhow, we decided it wasn't worth the risk, nor the loss of piece of mind. A minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent hunter orange exterior clothing is required. It must be worn above the waist and be visible from all sides. A hat, by itself, does not meet this requirement.

[Snowday]