Potential Weak Layers on Relay Peak

We toured in the Relay Peak area today.  Firm crusts existed in the morning on solar aspects with these crusts softening into the midday hours.  Corn snow existed on E-SE-S aspects at midday and provided good travel conditions.  SW winds were increasing throughout the day and kept the ridgelines cool and firm.  Once off the ridge, snow conditions softened quickly. 

We dug a snowpit on a wind protected northerly aspect.  This area showed consistent weak upper snowpack conditions that many other areas have exhibited throughout the forecast region.  A series of weak crusts and sugary loose faceted snow make up the upper snowpack.  Concern continues that a large loading event (like the storm arriving Saturday-Monday) could overload these weak snow layers and cause large avalanches.