Bedal Peak

Merry Creek route.  Take the (unsigned) Bedal Basin Road (4096) off the Mountain Loop Highway about 6.5 miles past Barlow Pass in the direction of Darrington.  The climber's path was flagged; it begins at ~2200 feet off the Bedal Basin Road at the second right switchback.  The route was  a well-flagged way trail, steep in spots (some dead-fall, not too bad), until the heather and huckleberry zone was reached about 4600 feet.   Here the trail became indistinct, with few flags. One should ascend south in heather, towards the basin until the forest gives way to a rock slide, about  5050 feet.  Do NOT ascend  the basin, but traverse horizontally left to cross a sort of rock jam just above where the basin narrows to a slot gully.  Find a ramp that angles left up about 50'.  It's critical to find this ramp as it is probably the only nontechnical way through the rock wall on this side of the gully.  Then follow cairns east into an area of heather and rock.  Snow was reached about 5000 feet (low snow year).  From here, the route was an enjoyable easy snow scramble.  Aim for the left side of the broad summit at the east end of the ridge.  A short class 2 rock scramble led to the summit.  The ascent took 5.5 hours, but could have saved an hour if no scouting was needed.  Stayed on the summit an hour.  Good views all around.  Descent took 3 hours.  Weather was sunny to partly cloudy.  Bugs were just beginning for the season, not bad yet.  Elevation gain about 4500 feet.  With one hour on the summit the total time was 9.5 hours.