Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center with an avalanche advisory posted for Wednesday, February 6, 2008. MOUNTAIN WEATHER Sunshine will prevail all this week. Daytime highs yesterday were 15 to 20 degrees warmer than Monday especially above 8500 ft. More of the same is on tap for the rest of the week with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Night time lows will be in the low 20s for most of the week. West winds have returned with breezy conditions expected for the next few days as storms pass well to the north of our area. There is no precipitation in the forecast. SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION We finally have a Sierra snowpack after the last two weeks of storms. Snowpack depths range from 135 inches at Leavitt Lake, 114 inches at Tioga Pass and Main Lodge to 60 inches up Rock Creek, over 80 inches at the Bishop Pass sensor and 70 inches on the west side of Mt. Whitney. The weather and skiing yesterday was a day we all live for- clear skies, calm winds except on high ridge tops, fantastic skiing and a relatively stable snowpack. I sampled several different aspects and elevations yesterday in the June Mountain area. The snowpack on north to northeast aspects was similar at 98000 and 11200 feet with a thin layer of intact stellar grains located at 25-35 cm down. These crystals were deposited during a calm period during the last storm. Extended column tests had scores greater than 20 with no propagation. There were many old crown fractures with a few recent avalanches up in high east and northeast facing terrain. On the ridge tops, snow was firm enough to walk on and leave no boot print. Once off the ridge tops, dry light snow was sitting on top of hard wind slab from last week. Ski cuts produced no results and stability tests produced only ragged shears. Southeast aspects are another stability story. Its February and solar radiation energy is increasing. Point releases off south and southeast facing slopes are originating from rocks. Many southeast aspects have been wind stripped and have only 20 to 30 cm of crusty, layered manky snow. With another clear day, expect to see wet point release slides that will entrain much of the shallow surface snow. Watch out for large sunballs and avoid southern aspects in the afternoon. West winds over the next few days will be strong enough to form wind drifts and slabs off ridge tops so be careful when dropping into steep terrain, especially on east to northeast aspects. BOTTOM LINE Since ridge top winds picked up last night and are gusting in the 40-50 mph range, you may find isolated wind slabs forming just off the ridge tops. The avalanche danger rating is MODERATE in steep wind loaded terrain on northern aspects. It is still possible to trigger an avalanche in steep terrain greater than 35-40 degrees. All other slopes will have a LOW danger rating. The avalanche danger rating rises from LOW to MODERATE on steep southern aspects with rock outcrops above 9,500 feet. Watch out for sunballs and point release wet slides as you cut across steep terrain greater than 35 degrees. Please note that the avalanche danger rating in this advisory expires in 24 hours. This advisory is our best interpretation of snow pack conditions and NWS forecasts issued today. Backcountry travelers should be aware that elevation and geographic distinctions are approximate and that a transition zone exists between upper and lower elevations. Avalanches do not happen by accident and most human involvement is a matter of choice not chance. Most avalanche accidents are caused by slab avalanches that are triggered by the victim of member of the victim's party. Even small slides can be dangerous. Always practice route finding skills and carry avalanche rescue gear. Remember that avalanche danger ratings are only general guidelines. Distinctions between geographic areas, elevations, slope aspects and slope angles should be made.