Good evening, this is Sue Burak with the Inyo National Forest with an
   Avalanche Statement for tonight through Tuesday at 4 PM. This statement
   does not include ski areas where avalanche control work is done. The
   information in this statement does apply to state and county roads and
   highway 395 in Mono County.

   MOUNTAIN WEATHER

   A Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service, Reno
   continues through tonight and tomorrow until 4 PM. A strong low
   pressure system along the west coast will bring snow to the Sierra
   through tomorrow afternoon. Heavy snow will pick up late tonight or
   early Tuesday morning. South to southwest winds will continue above
   7,500 ft with ridgetop gusts to 70 mph. Areas surrounding Mammoth and
   June Mountains could see another 2 feet of new snow by tomorrow
   afternoon as steady snowfall is expected to continue Tuesday.

   The winter storm warning issued for the eastern slopes of the Sierra
   from Bishop south to the Whitney area expires tonight at 10 PM.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   In the Mammoth area above 8,500 ft, 18 to 24 inches of new snow has
   fallen in the last 14 hours. Snowfall rates exceeded 2 inches per hour
   this afternoon. More importantly, water content has been added to the
   snowpack in a very high rate and the snowpack does not like rapid
   change and can cause natural avalanches. Southwest winds have been in
   the 10-40 mph range with strong gusts over 60 mph over the higher
   exposed terrain.

   High rates of snowfall, strong winds moving snow onto north and east
   facing slopes, recent large avalanches running to the ground, a buried
   reactive weak layer and the recent discovery of buried surface hoar,
   are good reasons for the HIGH danger rating in the Mammoth and June
   Mountain areas. If you travel and ski or ride in steep north to east
   facing terrain Tuesday, skier and rider triggered avalanches are likely
   for the next 24 hours.

   In the June Lake area, the HIGH danger rating applies to the Negatives
   all the way down in elevation to the glades in the Hemlocks, 4 Seasons
   and Devils Slide. Surface hoar was found in a snowpit yesterday in an
   open area in the trees in the Snowcreek drainage. An avalanche class
   watched a rutschblock fail while isolating the block, a definite sign
   of instability. All open areas in the steep trees below the moraine are
   dangerous and could continue to have a high or considerable danger
   rating for many days. The face of Carson settled with a loud whumpf
   today.

   The Mammoth Lakes Basin has a HIGH avalanche danger rating on all north
   to east facing terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Natural avalanches are
   likely and human triggered avalanches are likely. Stay on low angle
   terrain and dont ski under avalanche paths. If you are unlucky enough
   to trigger an isolated pocket of buried weak snow, the slope angle can
   be much less than 35 degrees.

   As of this evening, areas north and south of the Mammoth area have
   picked up 10 inches of new snow with the exception of Cottonwood Lakes
   in the southern Sierra. Cottonwood Lakes shows over 18 inches and 1.6
   inches of water added to the snowpack since this morning. For the Tioga
   Pass and Bishop Creek areas, just enough new snow has fallen with just
   enough wind to produce unstable slabs on steep terrain. Some sheltered
   slopes do not have the slab, the buried weak layer or the load required
   to produce an avalanche but many others do. For the areas north and
   south of the Mammoth and June areas, windloaded slopes steeper than 35
   degrees have a CONSIDERABLE danger rating.

   BOTTOM LINE

   The avalanche danger rating is HIGH in the backcountry around Mammoth
   Mountain and June Mountain. In the June Lake area, the HIGH danger
   rating applies to the Negatives all the way down in elevation to the
   glades in the Hemlocks, 4 Seasons and Devils Slide.

   The Mammoth Lakes Basin has a HIGH avalanche danger rating on all north
   to east facing terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Both natural and human
   triggered avalanches are likely on Tuesday. Stay on low angle terrain
   and dont ski under avalanche paths. If you are unlucky enough to
   trigger an isolated pocket of buried weak snow, the slope angle can be
   much less than 35 degrees.

   The avalanche danger rating is only a starting point. YOU CONTROL YOUR
   OWN RISK by choosing where and when you travel.

   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.