Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche
   Center with an avalanche advisory posted for Friday April 4, 2008.

   MOUNTAIN WEATHER

   After a fine early spring day on Thursday, a couple of systems passing
   to the north will bring breezy winds to the area today. Gusts up to 40
   mph are expected this afternoon. No precipitation is expected on
   Saturday, but there is a chance of snow on Sunday.

   After 4 to 6 degrees of warmer temperatures yesterday, today will be a
   few degrees warmer yet. Today is the last day of warming before the
   weather becomes cloudy and unsettled with cooler days and nights for
   the weekend. Highs today at the 9,000 ft elevations will be in the mid
   40s with higher elevations reaching the upper 30s and low 40s.

   Next week will be cool and unsettled with slight chances of
   precipitation for Tuesday.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   After a few inches of new snowfall Wednesday night at elevations above
   9,600 ft, light winds and very low relative humidity offset some of the
   solar radiation energy and kept the upper layers of the snow below 0C.
   Spring corn snow conditions are available on east, south and west
   aspects below 10,000 ft. Higher elevations are getting cold
   temperatures at night and snow surfaces are not softening up much
   during the day. If your goal is good skiing, reaching the summit could
   mean thousands of vertical of unpleasant skiing if you begin your
   descent later in the day, as one group experienced on one of the
   southern Sierra peaks recently.

   With a cool unsettled beginning to spring, the onset of spring skiing
   and melt at the higher elevations is delayed, while lower elevations
   are melting out. With cooler days and cloudy skies, the snow surface is
   receiving reduced solar radiation and softening at a much slower rate
   than often occurs this time of year. Thus, there is not much avalanche
   activity so far. With sunny skies today, the snow surface may melt fast
   enough to create instability at the surface, especially around rock
   outcrops.

   For today, the avalanche danger rating is LOW. By the early afternoon,
   the avalanche danger rating could rise to MODERATE on north facing
   slopes steeper than 35 degrees, especially where wind drifted new snow
   from earlier in the week becomes damp from solar radiation energy. The
   MODERATE avalanche danger rating is very isolated. On southern and
   eastern aspects, the snow on steep slopes around rock outcrops could
   also slide and has a MODERATE danger rating.

   BOTTOM LINE

   For today, the avalanche danger rating is LOW. By the early afternoon,
   the avalanche danger rating could rise to MODERATE on north facing
   slopes steeper than 35 degrees, especially where wind drifted new snow
   from earlier in the week becomes damp from solar radiation energy. The
   MODERATE avalanche danger rating is very isolated. On southern and
   eastern aspects, the snow on steep slopes around rock outcrops could
   also slide and has a MODERATE danger rating. These conditions will be
   found in isolated areas also.

   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.