May 15, 2010, Earl Peak, W. Slope Teanaway country
5/15/10
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
4246
4
Much the same as Larry R. found yesterday in the basin to our east....
Jake and Dave came from Leavenworth to meet me at Teanaway Junction. We opted to drive to the Beverly Trailhead, no snow in sight. 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 until 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, meeting the ridge at about 6300 feet. We turned southeast and were able to skin without interruption to the summit by staying just below the crest of the northwest ridge on the west side. Soon there will be a short boot and carry the last 100 feet or so. Arriving a 11:00 AM, we got carried away with the still warm summit air and lingered until noon, probably a mistake.
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. 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.
Those heading up the Teanaway tomorrow: 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.
Next weekend will probably be the last for the west slope without picking a route with traverses, but the south gully looks like solid snow to about 5200 feet. Bean basin looked plenty covered. Should be skiing by 5000 feet next weekend.
Pic 1, Jake about to hit the summit
Pic 2, Dave a few turns down on good snow
Pic 3, Jake in the heavy stuff
Jake and Dave came from Leavenworth to meet me at Teanaway Junction. We opted to drive to the Beverly Trailhead, no snow in sight. 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 until 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, meeting the ridge at about 6300 feet. We turned southeast and were able to skin without interruption to the summit by staying just below the crest of the northwest ridge on the west side. Soon there will be a short boot and carry the last 100 feet or so. Arriving a 11:00 AM, we got carried away with the still warm summit air and lingered until noon, probably a mistake.
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. 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.
Those heading up the Teanaway tomorrow: 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.
Next weekend will probably be the last for the west slope without picking a route with traverses, but the south gully looks like solid snow to about 5200 feet. Bean basin looked plenty covered. Should be skiing by 5000 feet next weekend.
Pic 1, Jake about to hit the summit
Pic 2, Dave a few turns down on good snow
Pic 3, Jake in the heavy stuff
Yo John, we saw you descending as 3 of us skinned towards Judy's. Judy's was fun, BTW.
6 of us did Earl yesterday (Sun 5/16), ascending and descending the same lines you did. Your skin tracks were quite melted out, looked to be a week old! It's cooking up there.
Other than your party, we didn't see any other ski tourists on the Bean Basin peaks. Odd.
6 of us did Earl yesterday (Sun 5/16), ascending and descending the same lines you did. Your skin tracks were quite melted out, looked to be a week old! It's cooking up there.
Other than your party, we didn't see any other ski tourists on the Bean Basin peaks. Odd.
Sounds fun, John. See my report from the day before in Beverly Crk.
author=Big Steve link=topic=16666.msg69895#msg69895 date=1274115065]
Yo John, we saw you descending as 3 of us skinned towards Judy's. Judy's was fun, BTW.
6 of us did Earl yesterday (Sun 5/16), ascending and descending the same lines you did. Your skin tracks were quite melted out, looked to be a week old! It's cooking up there.
Other than your party, we didn't see any other ski tourists on the Bean Basin peaks. Odd.
Hey Steve,
I, too was surprised at the lack of skiers. Too bad we missed you guys. Great to see Carla on skis, she should 86 the snowshoes! Don mentioned a camp Sat night, but I didn't think folks might be out on Saturday as well. Your thoughts on going east this weekend on skis might be the best bet looking at the extended forecast.
Hawkins, Ingalls basin or w. slope approach of Iron?
J
author=John_Morrow link=topic=16666.msg69915#msg69915 date=1274189623]
Great to see Carla on skis, she should 86 the snowshoes!
;D
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