4-15-2007 Teanaway access roads and basins cond.

This week I and others went up the following roads and drainages can give snowmelt updates for:
N. Fk. Teanaway Road No. 9737
Stafford Creek Road No. 9703
Beverly Creek Road 9737-113
Esmerelda, Beverly, and Stafford Basins

Currently travel beyond 29 Pines Campground is feasible with 2WD for 1 mile as of 4/14.  This is .3 mile short of the junction of Roads 9737 and 9703.  4WD and high clearance can get beyond the junction of 9737 and 9703 for another 1/2 mile on RD 9737 (N. Fk.) and not much farther on 9703 (Stafford).   However both roads are patchy a mile or so beyond the road junction.
By next weekend N. FK. Rd 9737 should be passable to 2WD for close to 2.5 miles, just beyond the F.S. guard station.  Here a densely forested and shady stretch annually holds fairly deep snow when most the road on either before and after is bare.  4WD may be able to bash through it by 4/21.  After this 200 yard stretch is alot of bare gravel and 4WD may make it nearly to the Beverly Creek Road 9737-112 junction by the coming weekend.  Beyond this point on 9737 the road is 95% snow covered, with significant large blowdown, and at the Esmerelda Basin Trailhead (at the end) 4+ feet of snow covers the road.
On Stafford road 9703 there are 2 ft. deep patches to Stand Up Creek Road 9703-112 jct. Beyond this junction the road also is 95% snow covered to its end at the Miller/Bear trailhead.  I doubt that travel much beyond Stand Up will be feasible by next weekend for either 2WD or 4WD.

In the basins there is still lots of snow.  Above 4500 feet in Stafford Basin there is still 4 to 5 feet of snow with the exception of sun exposed south facing slopes and windward west ridges.  There is quickly more than 5 feet of snow above the Esmerelda Basin TH and probably 6+ feet in Headlight Basin (including 4 inches of new this week). 
Stafford Creek Trail is patchy for 1.5 miles and requires walking on and off to about 4000 feet elev.
Beverly Creek Trail requires only a short walk for a few hundred yards just beyond the Bean Creek crossing, otherwise is completely snow covered and skiable with deep tree wells in the dense forest. 
Esmerelda Basin, Ingalls Way, and Longs Pass trails are completely snow covered and it is difficult to even find any bare dirt in the tree wells.  Most streams are about 60 to 70% snow bridged at this altitude.

Snow melt patterns seem a bit different this year on slopes.  South sides are losing snow pretty fast.  Most ridgelines are bare where exposed.  And interestingly, the west facing slopes just below exposed ridgetops are completely bare and I wonder if the early winter high winds had something to do with that?  Even with the melt proceeding faster in the hills that on the roads I think there will still be worthwhile skiing in the Stafford, Beverly, and Bean drainages in the coming weeks.  There is lots of snow around Longs and Ingalls Passes for when the road finally melts out the near the Esmerelda Basin TH.

A few hot days are what we need to advance the melt out of the roads which get so densely packed by snow groomers and snowmobiles during the winter.  On long strethes of snow covered road I personally do not recommend driving atop the snow unless you are quite daring and know the forecast is for cold throughout the afternoon hours. Or you may come back to a car sunk in to the undercarriage!

Hey John,

Thanks for the update! Maybe I'll see you up there next weekend...

$

Thanks for really good info John. Is that North Teanaway Road heavy snow/end spot the standard 3000' spot in the shade that is always the crux melt spot? Would you think a mtn bike would have enough bare spots to Beverly TH to be worthwhile? Are your buddies still running that cafe in Roslyn with the great Phad Thai?

You're right about getting stuck John , although I did make my 'daring' escape without getting stuck. My brother said that he saw you up on beverly creek. We seem to be running into you a lot this year! Here is my TR from that day: Ulrich's Couloir

BTW, awesome update!!! That's first class service.

Thanks for really good info John. Is that North Teanaway Road heavy snow/end spot the standard 3000' spot in the shade that is always the crux melt spot? Would you think a mtn bike would have enough bare spots to Beverly TH to be worthwhile? Are your buddies still running that cafe in Roslyn with the great Phad Thai?

Hi Nick,
Yeah we are thinking of the same spot, after the old washout in the shade of trees along the left edge.  A mountainbike would get you close to the Beverly turnoff but there will be long stretches of snow for that last 1.5 mile. 
Unfortunately my major social atmosphere has gone far downhill with some ownership changes, they don't even do Fri.-Sat. Phad Thai nights anymore.  It's kinda a bummer 'round here.
Well, probably run into you highup in the hills somewhere before too long!
John

Thanks for the update! Maybe I'll see you up there next weekend...

$

Heard you did quite well in the Yakima marathon, Stimbuck, congrats my friend!  I should be up there next wkd if not this one.  See you soon.
J

You're right about getting stuck John , although I did make my 'daring' escape without getting stuck. My brother said that he saw you up on beverly creek. We seem to be running into you a lot this year! Here is my TR from that day: Ulrich's Couloir

BTW, awesome update!!! That's first class service.

Wow, cool trip Jason.  Only the Hummels would call that approach (from 29 Pines) short!  I imagine you'll be working your way east through the range now that you have had a good look!  Last year my buddy Justin and I met TeleRoss coming off the Triple Couloirs on our way to Colchuck.  That has to be a first descent.  I have been wondering if that is on the list for you all.  It is fun seeing what you're up to.
J

anyone been up in the last 2 weeks?