Teanaway loop with Navaho and Earl peaks

A number of recent Teanaway-area trail reports showing melted-out high country piqued my interest, and Ethan was keen to join.

We took Stafford Creek up to Navaho Peak (7,223'), then the Standup Creek trail over to the SW ridge of Earl Peak and took the boot path to the summit (7,036'), exited via Bean/Beverly Creek trails and looped back on the forest service roads to the car. 

No real issues getting to Navaho Peak, however expect light-to-moderate cross-country snow travel from west Stafford Creek all the way over the pass SE of Earl and down to the trail on the west side of Standup Creek (climbing to the pass is deep, soft snow on moderately-steep terrain). Trail to the summit of Earl is snow free, with some steep patches of snow remaining from the SW ridge of Earl maybe 400' vertical on the way down to Bean Creek.

Lower Stafford Creek trail

Glacier Lily

Setting moon above the ridge SW of point 6459'

Meadows at 5600' on the way to Navaho Pass

Stafford Creek basin, with Earl Peak and the pass to get there below-left of the moon

Climbing to Navaho Pass

Some snow low on the way to Navaho Peak

It's a lot to take in from the summit of Navaho Peak at 7223'; with McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail, Colchuck, Argonaut, Sherpa, Stuart, Ingalls and Alpine Lakes Wilderness peaks beyond

Rainier, Goat Rocks and Adams

Descending Navaho on our way to Earl, upper left

Climbing up to the pass SE of Earl

Big cougar print

Headed up Earl Peak

Little tarn east of Earl Peak

Stuart from the summit of Earl Peak

Upper Bean Creek basin

Earl Peak summit register

Bean Creek

Ethan beginning the fast descent down Bean Creek