April 27, 2014, Earl Peak, Teanaway

Toured up Earl Peak on Sunday, April 27, 2014.  We were stopped in our Subaru approximately 3 miles from 29 Pines by snow piles.  Large clearance vehicles were making it farther and there are intermittent piles and dry sections.  Will not be long before it melts all the way to the Beverly/Bean Creek turnoff.  Walked about 1 mile to Beverly/Bean Creek and then about a 1/2 mile up the access road until we could put skins on.  Continuous snow after that.  Creek crossing was relatively easy.  One party was in front of us although it appeared they did not head up Earl, but rather continued up into the Bean Creek basin.  High winds and snowstorm enveloped us once we hit the summit ridge and no views or pictures were had.  Found our descent gully by braille, and then had very nice turns in the recent fresh snow all the way to the bottom.  Easy and continuous ski down valley to our stashed trail shoes and then short walk back to car.  More snow on the route this year than on the same weekend last year.  Some evidence of wet slides occurring recently.