At the top of Earl Peak: views of the Cascades, peak upon peak, Mt.Rainier in the distance in the opposite direction. Green serpentine rock at the top of Earl, not as much as Navaho Pass, but enough to make the top glisten. A spectacular vista in spectacular weather with a nice breeze to enjoy a snack with Callie, my Aussie and steadfast, cheerful hiking companion. She's almost 11 this summer and is doing great, more like she is 4 or 5 years old (must be all the hiking!) The choice to go on along the ridge to Bean Peak: I didn't have quite enough water for that, so next time.
Scarlet gilia, a variety of penstemon and phlox, western columbine, desert buckwheats and parsleys; Nootka rose and thimbleberry at the bottom, arrowleaf balsamroot still in its prime towards the top, a meadow full of shooting stars at the basin.Trail follows Bean Creek to thethe meadow. There were a couple of tents to the west edge of the meadow and folks coming down with full packs.
I left my hiking poles in the car, wished I hadn't, but the descent down the face of Earl Peak (trail heading up from the middle of the meadow in the basin) though covered by quite a bit of loose dust and rock, was fine if taken slowly. I'm on the cautious side and prefer to preserve my knees for the future, so I'm sure plenty of people would feel fine coming down faster.
Parking lot was full and I parked a couple hundred feet down the road. The approach on NF 9737-112 to the Bean Creek Trailhead has a few ruts that in a sedan or other low riding car (I drive a Ford Flex) you'll need to be strategic about. I won't repeat much about the directions on the trail itself as that's already been done by other posters, but I will clarify the driving directions at the point where the pavement of North Fork Teanaway road ends. Take the right hand branch here at the end of the pavement and when the road forks again, take the left branch, signed for Beverly Creek Campground. You'll be passing several idyllic little cabins on the left. The turnoff for 112 on the right is signed for Beverly Turnpike #1391, among some other designations. There are some branches sticking into the road that are going to contact your car, but nothing crazy. Still, you might not want to bring something fancy up this road if you're concerned about that. My car is wide and came out without any scratches below the dust, for what it's worth.
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