Bean Creek Basin, Iron Peak Loop, Beverly Turnpike, Bean Peak, Iron Peak, Navaho Peak & Navaho Pass — Sunday, Jul. 7, 2002

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

I took a great five day trip over the 4th of July to the ridge area between Ingalls Creek and the Stafford Creek drainage. I started up the Iron Peak trail, encountered quite a bit of snow at the saddle, and camped on snow the first night just beneath the saddle. The next day was a quick trip down to the junction between the Beverly Creek and Fourth Creek trails. There was some wayfinding to be done, since some of the upper parts of the trail are still snow covered. The trail from that junction into the Bean Creek Basin area is clear and easy to follow, and the wildflowers in the upper meadow at Bean Creek Basin are spectacular, like a big purple carpet. From here the trail climbs about 1000’ to a saddle in the ridge between Bean Creek and Standup Creek, and a great lunch with clear views of Mt. Ranier and Mt. Adams to the south. There is a great camp at this saddle, clear of snow for the most part, bring water from below. After lunch, it was down another 1000’, traversing a broad slope of yellow wild flowers, to Standup Creek. The trail fades in places here, but occasional cairns mark the way well enough. Up again to a saddle on the shoulder of Earl Peak, another great (but dry) campsite, and a thrilling view down into the Stafford Creek drainage. Just below the saddle there is a lot of snow covering the trail for about half a mile, and I found it difficult to relocate the trail below where it begins crossing the many seasonal tributaries of Stafford Creek. The real trail is clear once it emerges from beneath the snow, and once you find it. The next day was a day hike up to the saddle at Navaho Pass, clear of snow all the way up, and passing a fantastic meadow with good camping, and more good camping on the barrens above, just below the ridge. I followed the ridge left from Navaho Pass, up another shoulder coming off of Earl Peak. All along this ridge walk, you are face to face with the entire Stuart Range and Mt. Stuart, across the valley of Ingalls Creek. Oh, yeah, and Mt. Ranier again to the south. You really cannot beat these views. The next morning brought a quick walk out down the Stafford Creek trail in light rain, and a ride back to my car thanks to some friends, and the trip was complete.