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 98% 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 31F in Mt. Shasta, 40F in Dunsmuir and 24F in McCloud Valley. Mt. Shasta - We are measuring 89 inches of snow on the ground at Sand Flat (6750 ft.) and 99 inches at our weather station in the Old Ski Bowl (7600 ft., measured manually) with no new snow over the last week. The snow has settled 2 inches over the last 24 hours and 20 inches over the 8 days. Temperatures have ranged between 28F to 43F at 7000 ft. and it is currently 28F. Winds this morning are estimated at 5 mph below tree line from the E. Above tree line winds are estimated at 20-25 mph from the NW and on the upper mountain winds are estimated at 40-45 mph from the NW. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received no new snow and 2 inches of settlement in the last 24 hours, with 21 inches of settlement over the last 8 days. We estimate around 6.5 ft. of snow on the ground. The temperature on Mt. Eddy this morning is 33F. Temperatures near Castle Lake have been between 21F-56F over the last 24 hours and currently are around 26F. Weather Forecast: High pressure is rebuilding over California today and will dominate our weather pattern over the next week, sending most precipitation well north. A very weak system will move through Tuesday night and bring only cooler air and a few clouds. Dry weather and above normal temperatures will continue most of the week. For today we can expect sunshine with temperatures warming to the low to mid 40's at mid elevations and into the mid to upper 50's at low elevations. Winds will be light from the NNE below tree line and 10-15 mph from the NW - NE above tree line. On the upper mountain winds will be 35-45 mph from the NW early today and decrease to 20 mph from the NW and W later 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 soft by afternoon and with a chance for small wet sluffs and slabs in steep areas (35-50 degrees). Yesterday Nick and I dug a pit above tree line near Sargents ridge on Mt. Shasta (35 degree, SE aspect) and had a hard time getting failures (no failure on shovel shear - STN, and R7 failure 55 cm down on Rutschblock). The snow is pretty rough and wind textured above tree line due to wind scouring. D.H. again found relatively stable conditions at low elevation (5500 ft., NW aspect) with no failure on shovel shear tests and moderate failure on Compression 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.