We travelled up the Deer Creek drainage towards Helena Peak. Snowline began at 1600ft and it was wet, isothermal (and raining) with a moderately supportable surface up to 4000ft. Above that elevation up to 1ft of moist snow was present over the stout 3/18 crust on southerly slopes to 5000ft, while up to 2ft of moist snow was present over the crust on northerly aspects. Most snow was varying amounts of sticky aside from upper elevation north aspects. Layers were well bonded, and only signs of avalanches were rollerballs and small (D1) wet loose from yesterday (visibility was around 200ft). Cornices were very large and we stayed far back from any edges.