6/15, Saturday. Overcast in Seattle, sunny in Teanaway. In fact, it was too sunny. 75°F when we arrived Esmeralda Basin trailhead, around noon. Felt much warmer in the sun. Last Saturday's scramble picked my appetite for flowers in the area. This weekend, we hit the jackpot of Jeffery Shooting Star. The heat deterred me from my original plan: a very aggressive loop linking Earl's Peak and Navaho Peak, considering the trails here are often dry and exposed.
Had lunch at the picnic table, yes, with my umbrella. The trail to Esmeralda Basin is easygoing, except for the first 0.5 mile which is lined with ankle-turning rocks. After the junction with Ingalls Lake trail, the trail gets somewhat lush with a few minor creek crossings. There was a goat hanging out near the junction, just hid when we walked by. The trail was lined with yellow grousel, silvercrown and arnica, lots of penstemon (at least Bush and Cliff). Later buttercup, candytuft and dried glacier lily. Of course, the basin was filled with shooting stars, buttercup. A bit past prime here.
On the way to the Fortune Creek Pass, along the zigzag over the rocky slope, a lot of phlox, Lewsia Columbiana, some Lomatium Cuspidatum and Douglasia Nivalis. Found one small patch of snow and a tent on the little hill just south of the pass. The commanding view is stunning.Back at the TH around 4:30pm. It was ~80°F. I devoured a watermelon. My partner had blisters on both feet. Skin was rubbed off by tight socks and new boots. After surviving this 7 mile ~1800' trail, donned with new band-aid and old boots, we headed to Bean Creek Basin for a short one nighter with our full packs. Even though only 2.2 mile measured by Caltopo, elevation gain is 1900'. On this hot late afternoon, it was slow going. I was sincerely hoping that the meadow I never heard of until last night was worth our effort.
The short access road (1-1.5 mile) was rough and narrow. I was surprised to see over a dozen cars in the parking lot, and spilled by the road. Being here late has an advantage. Some day hikers already left, leaving a couple of good spots to park. First half a mile (same as Berkley Turnpike Trail) is a logging road. Easy. Now lined with penstemon. The next 1.5 mile goes up along Bean Creek. The crossing of the creek was relatively easy now. You'd see a small waterfall in a small red rock canyon. More arnica, lupine, and balsamroot, some nice scarlet gilia and columbine. The surrounding gets more lush as we went higher. At the next main creek crossing, took the left fork to continue up to Bean Creek Basin. The right fork goes to Earl and Navaho. It's only ~0.5 mile to the basin from here. We began to see pink carpets of shooting stars, in better condition than in Esmeralda Basin.
Alas, we reached the lovely Bean Creek Basin, filled with pink shooting stars. I had never seen so many shooting stars in bloom. It was a difficult decision as which way to walk, so to tramp less on the flowers. Multiple small streams flow in the meadow. Green with pink top layer. As the last ray of sunshine disappearing from the hills across the meadow, the full moon rising, a Grey Partridge walked by with 3 baby chicks trailing behind. What a idyllic place to call home for the night!
6/16, Sunday. The moon was bright all night. Even though the sky was bright at 5:30am, only ~7:40am, our little paradise was filled with sunlight. After breakfast and packed, we took small day packs up north to the ridge. There's a clear trail all the way up, getting steeper and steeper. ~0.5 miles, 800' gain. Green meadow gives away to rocky slope and vegetation change.
Saw some very showy alpine springbeauty, other than the endemic douglasia nivalis. 
The view once you crest the ridge is fantastic. I wanted to go along the ridge to Earl Peak. We managed to scramble for quite a bit, mainly staying at the south of the ridge. Can see Rainier better here. Maybe we should stay on top of the ridge, but it goes down. The slope got too slippery and steep. Gave up, gingerly scrambled back down to the camp, instead of back-tracking.
Took a siesta at the camp. I finished two old issues of Backpackers magazine. Ate. Hiked out around noon. Now refreshed, I enjoyed the trail better. Took more photos. In an hour, we were back to the car.Stopped at Cle Elum for gas, 20-30% cheaper than in Seattle. However, I-90 westbound was congested (east of the pass). Didn't see what was the cause.
I sure want to come to this area again, especially this time of the year for another show of shooting stars. I bet Navaho Pass camp is equally pretty. Need to scout other meadows here to call a night without the crowd.
