Bear Creek

Beehive gets all the press, likely because it has the trailhead, the cute name, and the delicious looking peaks. But a short climb out of Beehive puts you in Bear Creek, which is where a lot of the action goes on. I’m with the French still, who are tiring after a full week of backcountry skiing, but we plod on through middle Bear and into the alpine cirque, which is amazing. A short lunch here, some chocolate, and then we push on to the summit, staying north on crusty snow but where a track has already been set. It’s cold but the sun is intense; Gentiane offers me some sunblock and I return the favor with water.