Wet snow on Echo Peak

Warm day on Echo Peak. There was evidence of previous loose wet activity below the cliff bands between Flagpole and Echo and larger previous loose wet activity on NE slopes in Angora bowl. Approaching from the neighborhoods is patchy and will be difficult on skis very soon. Below about 7400 feet the snow had gone through at least a partial melt-freeze cycle but was soft after 9 am. Above that and especially on more shaded aspects several inches of heavy wet new snow were present. I did not see evidence of wind effect in the area of my tour. Looking over at Talking and Ralston, I did not see any evidence of recent avalanche activity (loose or slab).  

Photo 1: At approximately 9:30 am open east-facing snow at 7000 feet was soft. This snow had gone through a melt cycle. It was supporting skis but not supporting boots at this time.

Photo 2: Rollerballs naturally rolling at 10 am on NE aspect at 8200 feet. In the five or so minutes it took for me to pass through this area, I observed a dozen or more softball-size rollerballs come down. 

Photo 3: About a dozen small rollerballs were on top of the skin track. Folks had been up before me today.

Photo 4: Peering into Angora Bowl from the skin track up Echo. Previous large loose wet slide in Angora bowl. Looks like it ran about 600 vertical feet. Poor angle to show the entire slide. 

Photo 5: Soft snow near the summit of Echo Peak. This snow was unconsolidated new snow mush that had not gone through a melt-freeze cycle. 

Photo 6: Abundant rollerball activity on the upper wall. The snow in this area was moist to wet new snow. A couple of hundred feet lower it transitioned to more melt-freeze conditions. 

Photo 7: Runnels in lower Echo Bowl.