Quick Scout to the Saddleback

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.