May 6, 2016, Bean Creek Basin

Hot weather this spring has really done a number on the snowpack down low, and Bean is no exception.    I walked on dirt basically all the way to where the trail crosses the creek as you enter the basin, which is melting out with creeks opening.  I found a sneak way of continuous snow up to the ridge between Bean and Early, and there are nice smooth runs on those N aspects.  Skied there and also went over the ridge to the N or Early and skied that NE basin as well and up to top of Early with a run off the top.  I doubt you can link a continuous run down Early now back to Bean, but who knows?

As the pix show the snow is there on the N aspects, it's just getting there....

The creek at the crossing was roaring faster than I've ever seen. You are not going to cross it w/o wet feet, so bring shoes you don't mind getting wet.  I walked across right where the trail crosses where it is actually not that deep, but it is not a trivial crossing in the hot weather right now.