Quick Scout to the Saddleback

<p>Poked into Saddleback Pass this morning with hopes to find some half-decent riding in some sheltered gullies without overhead hazard. Instead, we found that all NW to E aspects had been blasted with wind. Skinned over to the bottom of Saddle Mountain couloir and found the wind slab was prone to cracking when unsupported. Dug a quick pit here at 2250m to see just how easy this wind slab and persistent slab would react. On separation of the column, there was a sudden planar fracture down 27 and on impact with the ground the wind slab on top further separated. So we went and did a couple of short, mellow tree runs with variable snow conditions before calling it a day. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Dense trees, Mellow slopes, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Convex slopes, Steep slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Hard, Wind affected.

Weather Conditions

Sunny, Warm, Windy.