Deep Wet Snow at Waterhouse Peak

Multiple nights and days of above freezing temperatures have created deep wet snow.  These weather conditions drove us to seek out low angle terrain to minimize wet snow instabilities. Starting our tour around 11:30 boot penetration was above boot top.  Coverage on the N / NE aspect is still conducive to travel, but lower elevation ridges are starting to melt out and obstacles (limbs, rocks, melt cavities etc..) are increasing.  The Feb 14 facet layer in this area was wet and loose.  An extended column test targeting this layer produced ECTN results.  From the summit the spring melt out was very apparent, many S faces are free of snow while N faces still hold consistent coverage.  We were also able to see a wet snow avalanche from several miles away towards Stevens Peak.  On our descent we were able to trigger pinwheels and multiple small wet loose avalanches on test slopes (see video below).  These test slopes were small and inconsequential but meddling with these conditions in more complex and exposed terrain could have severe consequences.  Overall conditions at Waterhouse today were less than desirable for skiing.