[TR] Baring Mountain - West Ridge - South Slope 4/7/2007

[iluka]

Trip: Baring Mountain - West Ridge - South Slope

 

Date: 4/7/2007

 

Trip Report:

Went with several friends today up Baring Mountain. FR 6024 is open all the way to Barclay Lake TH (which it apparently wasn't up until a week or two ago due to blow downs). The turnoff from the old road grade up the rock gully is still well marked with a cairn. We got out of the creek drainage after only about 10 meters and picked up the climbers trail to the ridge without much problem. There is some scattered flagging still there. Snow free until about 3600 feet where you can pick up a continous snow slope to the ridge or cut off to the right and stay on steep dirt trail until just below the ridge at 4,000 feet. There are some real nice steps laid in the snow right now. The snow was very firm despite the warm temps. Heading east on the ridge is easy with only patches of snow and no trail finding difficulties.

 

After dropping off the ridge and traversing to the gully that leads to the basin, we ran into some pretty firm snow and put on crampons. From there, it was easy travel up to the basin on steep, continuous snow in the trees. Once at the basin, we took off the crampons as things were very soft. Had the basin been much longer snow shoes would have been nice as there was a fair amount of post-holing but we went without them. By now there is a good, firm track to walk on. The gully to the notch was completely snow-covered and made for easy step-kicking. From the notch, we booted up the snow towards the summit ridge. This first section was steep but because the snow was so soft, we were able to get great steps in and didn't need to protect it. In firmer conditions, it would be tricker as it is quite steep right now and all snow. Once above this, it was easy tracking through the snow as we traveresed left to the ridge line and then followed the open snow fields to the summit. Continuous snow until about 5 m below the summit and from there easy scrambling to the top. Overall, the snow seemed very stable. In spots, there is about 6-8 inches of heavy, less consolidated snow over a firmer base but we did not dig a pit to confirm.

 

Car to summit: 4.25 hours

Summit to Car: 3 hours

Approach: can drive to trailhead; no route finding issues.

 

Gear: Axe, helmet, crampons. (We carried but did not use two pickets, harnesses and scramble rope because we were not sure about the steep part just above the notch). I'd leave the snowshoes back right now.