May 24-26, Stafford Creek

What a difference two weeks makes. Brenda and I took a mushroom hunting trip up the Teanaway with my parents on Mothers' Day, and we couldn't even make it to the Stafford Creek road junction.  This weekend the road was clear several miles past Beverly Creek, and Safford Creek road was clear past the trailhead. Our original plan was for Bean Crk basin, but the creek crossing looked like it might not be fun - all the creeks were raging - and, with the road clear all the way to the trailhead, Bean Crk looked like it might be a busy place. So we headed up to Staffor Crk, and our usual forest camp at 4200'. Even though it was a couple weeks later than we had ever toured in this valley, we were still surprised to see the somewhat boney conditions. Usually we can easily ski from camp, but this year required hauling skis at least a half mile up the valley to continuous snow. Sat afternoon we climbed up the reliable snow filled gulley to Little Navaho and skied the backside basin where there was plenty of coverage. Made it back to camp and finished dinner and a nice fire just in time for a steady rain that lasted most of the night. Sunday we toured up to Earl Pk east basin and skied of a north ridge before calling an early afternoon due to threatening clouds and sticky snow. Decided to hike out early, as the night had stayed warm and the snow sticky - and we weren't in the mood for carrying the skis over creeks and patchy snow.

Snow melts out quick in the Teanaway, but views towards Ingalls Basin looked like good skiing for coming weeks.

Earl Pk from Little Navaho Saddle

Skiing Little Navaho Gulley

Navaho and Little Navaho from Earl Pk Basin