<>By Eric White The Details: This Season: Our season started late and has had higher winds than normal above tree line. Our precipitation is around 99% of normal since September 1. January brought several heavy and cold snow storms. Snow pack at lower elevations is well above normal, near normal at tree line, and below normal above tree line due to wind scouring. Recent snow surveys locally show our snow pack below tree line at around 137% of normal. We are in a "La Nina" climate condition which often means wetter than normal winters in our area and expectations are for above normal precipitation into the spring of 2008. Weather Observations: We have clear skies and calm winds in town this morning, and it is currently 30F in Mt. Shasta, 34F in Dunsmuir and 19F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 91 inches of snow on the ground near tree line with no new snow over the last week. The snow has settled 2 inches over the last 24 hours and 18 inches over the last week. Temperatures have ranged between 25F to a searing Sahara 51F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 29F. Winds this morning are estimated at 10 mph below tree line from the SW. Above tree line winds are estimated at 30 mph from the W and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 40-45 mph from the W. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received no new snow and 2 inches of settlement in the last 24 hours, with 19 inches of settlement over the last week. We estimate around 6.5 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is a warm 37F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 21F-64F (whoa!) over the last 24 hours and currently are around 22F. Weather Forecast: A cold front is bringing precipitation to BC and Washington with some in Oregon and pretty much stopping at the OR/CA border. It looks like that will be the trend for today with light precipitation on the NW corner of California and probably only clouds for our area. This pattern will continue this week with storms passing north of our area and only light precipitation expected with generally warm and dry conditions most of the week. For today and tomorrow on this Holiday weekend, we will see sun with more clouds later today and tonight and partly cloudy to sunny tomorrow. No precipitation is expected for Mt. Shasta. Temperatures at mid elevations today will warm into the 40's, reaching the low 50's at lower elevations. Winds below tree line will remain light and variable, while above tree line, winds will 15-20 mph from the W, moving to the NW tonight. On the upper mountain winds will be 30-35 mph from the W, moving to the NW today. Snow Pack: The snow pack continues to settle and stabilize with warm to above normal temperatures. Expect pretty variable conditions with corn snow at low elevations on open southerly aspects in the morning, following the sun during the day. Watch for open areas at lower elevations to become sloppy by afternoon and with a chance for wet sluffs and small wet slabs in steep areas (35-50 degrees). Yesterday Nick was able to get thin wind slabs to release with moderate force on a NE aspect at 8000 ft. on Mt. Eddy in the afternoon. Winds slabs are stabilizing more slowly on northerly aspects and at higher elevations on all aspects, so continue to be observant for these areas. Hollow sounding snow is a common characteristic of wind slabs and these will release more easily during the warmer parts of the day. D.H. reported "near corn" conditions on a NW aspect at low elevation (5400 ft.) with moderate to hard failures during tests. Rutschblock stability test 2/9/08 showing 13cm R5 failure 8000 ft, NE aspect, 31 degrees. Nick's Rutschblock stability test on 2/9/08 gave a R5 failure on second jump. Pit was on a NE aspect near 8000 ft. and 31 degrees on Mt. Eddy. Some important thoughts: This advisory does not apply to Ski Areas or Highways and is for the Mt. Shasta, Castle Lake and Mt. Eddy back country. Use this information for guidance only. You may find different conditions in the backcountry and should travel accordingly. This advisory expires at midnight tonight. As always, use safe travel practices: travel with a partner, travel one at a time in suspect areas, go from one island of safety to another, choose safe routes, wear a transceiver, carry a shovel and probe, and know how to use your gear! Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park: Grooming has continued with Rd. 19 to Deer Mnt. on 2/5 and the Ash Creek Butte loop on 2/6. Val and Cliff have been busy cutting down fallen trees and limbs on some of the trails.