Bean Basin 6/07/08

Ted, Andy (lowrider) and I encountered scores of Mountaineers scramble course students/instructors at the TH, but managed to largely avoid them during our pleasant tour of Bean Basin.  Left TH at 0750.  Bean Creek crossing was easy, likely the result of a hard freeze overnight.  We skinned, booted and scrambled to a high point on the Bean-Mary's ridge, and skied a steepish (35 degrees?) line covered with 3" - 4" of sun-baked powder, most of which sluffed off with our first few turns.  We then skinned up to the peak S of Mary's, where we encountered a group of hardhat-clad Mountaineers scramblers, stiff winds and wintry, though clear, conditions.  From the summit, we skied a nice line down a ridge and the three of us picked three different lines through rock bands below, followed by obstacle course skiing through trees and thinning slush to the tread and trail.  Nice day.  Approx 4000' up, 2400' ski.  Andy's pic of Ted follows -- notice hardhat-clad Mountaineers scramble group members peering from summit.