Shallow but Supportable Snow Near Slab Cliffs

We went to the Slab Cliffs/Relay Peak area to revisit some areas known to have old weak snow (specifically the Dec 11 facets). We tried to target a variety of elevations and places. We stuck to terrain less steep than 30 degrees except when we were on the southerly aspects where the old weak snow was not present. We found the Dec 11 facets on N-NE-E aspects. In most areas, we could feel it by pushing our poles down into the snowpack. We did more formal snowpits at 3 different locations/elevations. Snowpit tests at each of these locations indicated that the Dec. 11 facets were still weak but that they seem able to support the snow that is currently on top of them. Tests also indicated that the snowpack is not in good shape to handle new snow loading.  See the first photo for a map of the 3 snowpit locations and the other photos and snowpit for the test results. 

Along the ridgelines, we did find some dense wind slabs and recent cornices. Ski cuts and kicks on these wind loaded test slopes did not produce any signs of instability. 

We traveled across several different aspects. The northerly aspects held soft snow and there was a small melt-freeze crust on the southerly aspects. The E and W aspects held a mix of both. 

Throughout the day the weather stayed cool with low clouds obscuring the sky at times and clear skies at other times.