rodman's GPS route from June 2006 (I used white-out on the route from Bean Peak over to the Volcanic Neck which we didn't do this year)... 8 miles roundtrip, gaining 4000 feet of elevation.

Starting from the Beverly Creek Turnpike trailhead (3600'), we found the junction for the Bean Creek Trail after hiking a half mile.

Another quarter-mile of hiking and we crossed Bean Creek on a makeshift bridge.

Two miles into the hike the main trail crosses Bean Creek again and switchbacks up towards Earl Peak... continue straight here if you want to hike into Bean Creek Basin.

Nanda finds her poles very useful in getting across Bean Creek.

Views of Bean Peak and Mt. Stuart improve as we switchback our way up to the 6200 foot pass that separates the Bean Creek and Standup Creek drainages.

Looking across valley to Judy's and Mary's Peaks.

A closeup view of Bean Peak, Mt. Stuart, and Sherpa Peak from the 6200 foot pass... still 800 feet of elevation left to reach the Earl Peak summit.

400 feet below the Earl Peak summit, views continue to improve... with Bill's Peak, Fortune Peak, and Ingalls Peak behind Bean Peak.

The Earl Peak summit is close now.

We've reached the Earl Peak summit... a panorama shot looking west and northwest.

A panorama shot of the Stuart Range from Earl Peak.

A closeup of Mt. Stuart and Sherpa Peak

A closeup of Colchuck Peak, Dragontail Peak, and Little Annapurna.

A closeup of Fortune Peak and Ingalls Peak beyond Bean Peak.

Two Wood Nymphs and a Weirdo on the Earl Peak summit.

We've left the Earl Peak summit (7036') and looking back on it as we head along the ridge that connects it to Bean Peak.

Looking back at Earl Peak... we had to give back 600 feet of elevation as we continue along the ridge over to Bean Peak.

Nanda and Denali Girl on the ridge between Earl Peak (in the distance) and Bean Peak.

Lots of ups and downs on the ridge between Earl Peak and Bean Peak.

Getting closer to Bean Peak.

Judy's Peak and Mary's Peak from the ridge connecting Earl Peak and Bean Peak.

Nanda is looking for the easiest path that will put us on the Bean Peak summit... Mt. Stuart is on the right.

Nanda has almost reached the Bean Peak summit block.

Earl Peak is behind Denali Girl.

We've reached the Bean Peak summit block and will work our way from the east side of Bean over to the south side and then head for the summit.

Just a little more work left to reach the the Bean Peak summit (6743')... a group from the Mountaineers Club are already enjoying the summit views.

Nanda is ready to step onto the Bean Peak summit.

Denali Girl is nearing the Bean Peak summit.

Denali Girl utilizes the "turn your foot 90 degrees" technique.

Mt. Stuart and Sherpa Peak from Bean Peak.

A closeup of Fortune Peak and Ingalls Peak from Bean Peak.

A closeup of The Temple between Little Annapurna and McClellan Peak.

A closeup of the Volcanic Neck in front of Argonaut, Colchuck, Dragontail, and Little Annapurna.

Denali Girl and Nanda are heading down from the Bean Peak summit.

The south face of Bean Peak.

Denali Girl has reached easier terrain and heading for Bean Creek Basin.

Nanda is dropping towards Bean Creek Basin with Earl Peak in the distance.

Another group of hikers has almost reached Bean Creek Basin... this is where we will find the trail that will take us back to where we crossed Bean Creek and switch-backed up to Earl Peak.