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Trip Report    

Winter Scramble - Bean Creek Basin

We encountered thigh deep snow from the Earl Peak turn off on a beautiful blue bird day. Successfully made it to the basin and a little higher to a lunch spot with a view of the peaks; did not make it to Bean Peak.

Mija Lee Mija Lee
November 09, 2024
  • Snow and ice on road

  • Route started with a few inches of snow on the ground, covering trees still holding onto their fall colors. The creek crossings were all fine - low water, very little ice on the rocks. Within a mile or so, the snow went from ankle to calf to knee high (eventually to hip, depending on who was measuring). At a certain point it was clear we weren't going to make it to the top, so we floundered uphill to a spot with great views of the surrounding peaks, stomped out a platform and had lunch.

    There was a small amount of snow on the road until the turn off to bean basin TH. The few inches and the uphill angle of the last bit of road would have been hard without AWD.

It was just the three of us after a last minute change from Shriner Peak to Bean Basin. Weather was supposed to be a little snowy in the morning, and there were a few flurries, but by 10 am we had beautiful blue skies. The snow on the golden trees, red berries and pines just added to the enjoyment of an great day out.

We had spikes that we never used and had decided at the trailhead not to carry the snowshoes, thinking that there would be 6 inches or snow, not more. That was a lesson learned, and with just three of us, breaking a trail through deep, unconsolidated snow was slow going. If the day hadn't been so beautiful in other ways, I wouldn't have marked it a success.