Thanks John... I talked to the District Ranger at the end of last week and he said there was still 6-12" of snow on most of the trail....
I believe that to be utter nonsense based on what I saw on Cucamonga Peak a week ago.
Is there snow? Yeah, there is snow. Is it 6 to 12'? A drift or two maybe. Is the trail open? My guess is that it is mostly open with a trail beaten in most of the way up.
I would not take a bunch of kids based on the above. However, personally would go up there without ice axe and crampons knowing I could bypass whatever impasse I would find below the ridge.
The most dangerous part of that trip is the ridge at 9,200' and my guess the whole of it is melted out.
What the person at the Forest Service told you is normal April conditions exist when it is more like early to mid May.
