Surprise Pass unsurprising

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Powder

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Open trees
• Sunny slopes

We stayed away from:

• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Cold
• Stormy
• Sunny
• Windy

Avalanche conditions

• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

*This party's first lap of Surprise Pass, so comments cannot include this season's immediate local context.*

We threaded the weather needle Saturday morning between fresh storm snow and rapid cooling. Weather was highly changeable, warm and calm one minute and cold, powerful winds the next. Wind direction appeared changeable and highly localized to specific features, wind transport had yet to take significant effect.

Storm snow averaged 25cm, was light and sits atop ubiquitous crusts. We found concerning bond on south aspects of Fairview Mtn - unsupportive skinning which felt prone to shear. This party therefore opted against additional turns in the bowl at the head of Saddleback Pass.

Trail breaking up the final pitch to Surprise Pass proper involved the use of ski crampons despite plentiful new snow - SS bond was monitored but felt ok in this more sheltered area.

Turns were awkward - lovely blower powder on bulletproof crust. Conditions improved somewhat halfway down the run where softer crusts were encountered.