Baring Mountain conditions?

[wavewheel8]

A friend and I are thinking about climbing Baring Mountain (via the Class II NW ridge route) on Monday. I've read some reports from previous years saying that there can be a reasonably formidable "snow wall" early in the season at the top of the chute between the North and South peaks. Has anyone been up there this season, or at a similar point in previous seasons? If so, want to share what you found?

 

Also, given that the route involves climbing an avalanche chute, I figure that it's worth thinking about avalanche risk. Has the snowpack been isothermal for long enough that the chance for big wet slides has been minimized, or do we still need to be worried?

 

Thank in advance for any help!

[Bronco]

I was up on Beckler Peak (about 5 miles East of Baring) two weeks ago and found 3-4' of snow at 3,500'. The advantage to doing Baring right now is a lot of the jungle will still be covered in the spring snow pack. The snowpack seemed pretty well consolidated but having been on Baring at this time of year, I would consider bringing snowshoes. Be careful of the potential for hidden moats in the gullies leading up to the intial ridge, I glissaded down and accidentally jumped a big one.