April 28, 2001, Bean Creek Basin

Hoping to ski Earl five of us drove to appr. 3000' on the main Teanaway Road. Very high clearance vehicle needed to go further. Long walk and usual dicey Beverly Creek crossing brought us finally to snow at 4600'. The main Earl ski ridge had lots of rocks showing. Very disappointed we headed up to the ridge connecting Earl and Bean. Lots of mixed crust and deep mush on the west aspect descent. Headed up to one of the Mary satellites for an east aspect run and found real dangerously rotten stuff on a north aspect near the ridge top. Top of the east run was mushy then fairly nice down below. Repeated two more times to get 5500 vert on the day. Some nice grappel snow fell at times. Two of the Volken brigade in the basin as well. Four on AT and the one heroic tele lover recommend you look elsewhere for this year. Just not enough.

Nick Davies