Waterhouse Peak

I took advantage of the sub 30 degree terrain of Waterhouse Peak and checked on the arriving storm this morning. Temps were mild (just barely freezing at the lowest elevations)  and my jacket and pants were a bit wet during my ascent. I've heard multiple accounts from friends who observed whumpfing on Luther Pass in the last few days. I skinned around in non avalanche terrain just below the summit ridge where surface hoar and near surface facets could have formed but I didn't hear any whumpfs myself today. Winds were often violently loud in the trees so that likely made it difficult to hear.  Winds were moving a lot of snow in open areas near the summit and glades at lower elevations but soft unconsolidated new snow remained in denser trees. I did stop at obvious wind slab very low on the peak just above Grass Lake. I skinned over the small test slope and only saw minimal cracking but the surface snow was firm which was likely a combination of wind and warmer temps.  In general, coverage here is just sufficient for travel on skis. The boulder fields are best avoided but one can mostly make it down without too many scrapes. As I left, the thermometer in my car said 32 degrees and snow on Hwy 89 transitioned to slush and largely wet pavement before I made it down to Christmas Valley.