Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche
   Center with an avalanche advisory posted on Sunday April 6, 2008.

   REMEMBRANCE Two years ago today, three ski patrolmen lost their lives
   in a tragic accident on Mammoth Mountain. Let us all pause briefly
   today to honor their memory.

   BIGHORN SHEEP CLOSURES

   The Lone Pine office of the Inyo National Forest requested the
   following information be posted on the bighorn sheep closures.

   All visitors to George Creek, including day hikers/skiers/riders, are
   required to obtain a wilderness permit. The daily entry quota is 8
   people (2001 John Muir Wilderness If one enters the wilderness at
   Bair's Creek and climbs up and enters the zoological area via that
   route, the April15-May 15 permit and quota regulations apply as well.

   One can make a reservation for a wilderness permit through the Forest's
   wilderness permit office (760.873.2573). As of Thursday, April 3, a few
   reservations had been made for George Creek for the April 15-May 15
   period, but most days have the full 8 person quota available.

   Walk-in wilderness permits will be available at visitor centers April
   15-May 15. For entry on the following day, permits are issued after
   11:00 AM. Visitors may not self issue wilderness permits for George
   Creek.

   Wondering what all the fuss is over Bighorn Sheep? Check out this link:

   http://www.fws.gov/nevada/protected_species/mammals/species/sn_bighorn_
   sheep.html

   MOUNTAIN WEATHER

   Got wind? More wind is on tap for Mono and northern Inyo County today
   and tonight. West to southwest winds will continue to blow in the 25-50
   mph range above 9,000 ft from Tioga Pass to the southern Sierra. A cold
   front moves into the area today, keeping temperatures in the low 30s
   above 10,000 ft. Daytime highs at the 8,000 to 9,000 ft elevations
   could reach 40 F today. Night time lows continue to be in the mid to
   upper teens at most high elevation sensors.

   Clouds will move into Mono County today as the next in a series of
   short waves move across the Pacific northwest. This next system is
   forecasted to be slightly stronger than yesterdays disturbance.
   Southern portions of Inyo County could be quite windy with a
   possibility of a wind advisory by tomorrow afternoon.

   After this system exits on Monday, there will be brief respite from
   winds until Monday night and Tuesday when an inside slider forms and
   deposits snow along the Sierra Crest on Tuesday and Tuesday night.
   Temperatures will really drop by Tuesday with highs in the 20s expected
   at the 9,000 ft elevation.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   With high elevations staying unseasonable cold for this time of year,
   persistent winds cooling the snow surfaces and cold nights, a mid
   winter snowpack regime as returned. Snowpits resemble mid winter snow,
   complete with facets and clean, fast popping shears. A south facing
   slope at 9,600 ft yesterday had loose faceted snow under the frozen
   melt freeze surface layer with 2 degrees C temperature difference in 2
   cm of snow depth. Discrete ice masses can be found in the upper meter
   of the pack- these are the beginning of flow fingers that route surface
   snow melt to the base of the pack.

   A pit dug on a north aspect showed the effects of multiple days of
   wind- thin, ½ inch wind crusts with faceted snow under each layer.
   Temperatures in the upper meter were in the -5C to -6C range. Clean
   shears at 30 cm down popped out with moderate compression test scores.
   Once spring returns and melt water begins to move through the pack, it
   will be interesting to watch how the ice layers with facets under the
   layers, will react. This is a very unusual situation in terms of wet
   avalanche formation and release.

   BOTTOM LINE
   Snow stability will remain good until more snow arrives or a warmer air
   mass moves into the area. For today, 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.