This is Chris Lundy with the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with General Snow and Weather Information on Friday, November 30,
 2007.
 This information will be updated as we get more snow and more people
 head into the backcountry. Wed like to thank this seasons group of
 great advisory sponsors, including the City of Ketchum, the Wattis
 Dumke Foundation, Blaine County, Sun Valley Tele Series, Smiley Creek
 Lodge, the Idaho Department of Parks and Rec, the Sawtooth Society,
 and the Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management.

 Snowpack:
 Snow conditions for backcountry travel are still very limited, with
 only upper elevation, northerly facing aspects having enough snow for
 reasonable sliding and riding.

 Cold, dry weather following Thanksgiving kicked the faceting process
 in high gear, significantly weakening the snowpack in most locations.

 Where the snow is less than about two feet deep, the entire snowpack
 has become fairly faceted and gutless. In deeper areas, the faceting
 occurred mainly on the surface, but weaker layers also exist lower in
 the snowpack. A snowmobile-triggered slide in the Salmon Headwaters
 region a week ago likely released on these deeper layers that formed
 clear back in October.

 Since last weekend, most mountain locations have picked up 4-8 inches
 of low density new snow. Strong winds Wednesday night and Thursday
 likely formed shallow wind slabs on lee slopes. Some of these wind
 slabs may remain sensitive through the weekend.

 Mountain Weather:
 The weather should remain unsettled through the weekend with the best
 chance for snow on Sunday. Most models are calling for around 2-4
 inches, with our northern mountains standing the best chance.

 Temperatures should remain on the cool side through the weekend until
 a brief ridge of high pressure arrives on Monday.