Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche
   Center with an avalanche advisory posted on March 30, 2008.

   MOUNTAIN WEATHER

   The weather forecast for a sunny, clear and warmer day changed
   yesterday afternoon to a 30% chance of snow in the mountains from Lone
   Pine to the Bridgeport area. Temperatures will fall five to 10 degrees
   from yesterday with low clouds and gusty west winds at the higher
   elevations. Isolated snow showers could bring a few more inches of snow
   today above 10,000 ft after last nights 3-4 inches.

   Highs at the 9,000 ft elevations will be in the mid 20s with west winds
   20-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Sunday night lows will be in the
   15-18F range. Above 10,000 ft, todays highs will be in the upper teens
   to low 20s with gusty ridgetop west winds to 50 mph. Tonight and Monday
   night will be cold with temperatures dipping down to the low teens.

   Monday and Monday night will provide a break from the unsettled weather
   but by Tuesday, another storm will bring wind, cold and a decent chance
   of snowfall to the area.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   The lack of precipitation in March is shortening the length of the
   spring ski season. Despite mostly seasonal temperatures, there has been
   a steady decline in snowpack depth in March. Mammoth Mountain measured
   10.5 inches of snow this month including the 3.5 inches that fell last
   night and this is a lower March snowfall total than March 2007. The
   higher elevation ridgetops are mostly wind stripped from the unusually
   frequent strong winds of the last three months.

   In some high elevation terrain, unpleasant nieve penitentes are
   forming. Conditions favorable for the formation of these spikes of
   compacted snow are long dry periods with no precipitation, dry air,
   wind and strong insolation. Insolation is the amount of solar radiation
   a given surface area receives in a given time, for instance, a 24 hour
   period.

   Winds over the last few days have been strong enough to collect and
   deposit new snow drifts onto steep northern aspects in the area from
   Mammoth north. These wind slabs are small but easily triggered- one
   party reported kicking off a small slide in the Mammoth to June area
   yesterday. Skiing and riding conditions right now are variable with
   mostly frozen surfaces above 9,500 ft.

   With continued wind and 3 to 6 inches of new snowfall, the avalanche
   danger rating is MODERATE in steep, high elevation north facing terrain
   greater than 35 degrees. For all other terrain the avalanche danger
   rating is LOW.

   BOTTOM LINE

   With continued wind and 3 to 6 inches of new snowfall, the avalanche
   danger rating is MODERATE in steep, high elevation north facing terrain
   greater than 35 degrees. For all other terrain the avalanche danger
   rating is LOW.

   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.