Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche
   Center with an avalanche advisory posted on Monday, February 18, 2008.

   MOUNTAIN WEATHER
   
   After a few days of spectacular clear skies, light winds and above
   normal temperatures, the party is over. Today will begin a week of
   unsettled and hopefully, snowy weather. Daytime highs will drop
   another 5 degrees today from Sundays highs and lows will dip into the
   mid to upper teens tonight and throughout the week.

   A few brief snow showers could develop this afternoon with the chance
   of more significant snow Tuesday night especially if an area of upward
   vertical motion moves to the south of Mono County. Tuesdays highs will
   be about 7-10 degrees cooler than today with highs around 30 F in
   Mammoth and Aspendell.

   Wednesday will be cooler with low snow levels at 5500 ft by the
   evening. The timing and strength of each shortwave is not known but
   NWS expects periods of moderate to heavy snowfall through the weekend.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   There were several reports of wet slides yesterday. A naturally
   occurring wet slide came off the mid elevation (9600 ft) southeast
   slopes on the ridge between Victoria and Hunewill peaks in the
   Bridgeport area.

   A skier triggered a wet slide near the top of a wind loaded gully of
   Pointless Peak in Rock Creek yesterday afternoon. From my vantage
   point, it looked like a point release in 40 degree + terrain that
   entrained a lot of snow but did not travel to the runout zone on the
   cone below the left hand gully on Pointless. Fortunately he ended up
   on top of the snow and was able to get to the side of the gully as the
   avalanche continued downslope. He lost skis, poles and his hat. The
   skier and his girlfriend were staying at Rock Creek Lodge and had left
   the Lodge to ski between 11 and 12 noon. They were on the slope during
   the peak of solar radiation in the early afternoon. The girlfriend was
   skiing on the lower angle slopes below the gully when the slide was
   triggered. Thanks to Mark from Rock Creek Lodge for the detailed
   report he obtained from the skier who promptly left the Lodge to
   travel home.

   Daytime highs peaked on Saturday with clear skies and maximum solar
   radiation. Yesterday was the third day with clear skies, light north
   winds and late winter temperatures in the mid 40s. This came after two
   very cold and cloudy days of strong winds with cold snowpack
   temperatures. With clouds reducing the amount of solar energy reaching
   the snow surface over the next few days, the wet snow avalanche danger
   will decrease only to be replaced with another avalanche issue we have
   not experienced for a while- new snow.

   BOTTOM LINE
   For today, the avalanche danger is LOW with MODERATE danger on
   southern aspects above 9500 feet in the afternoon. Avoid southern
   slopes during the noon to early afternoon hours in 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.