This is Janet Kellam with the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche
 Center with General Snow and Weather Information on Friday, December
 7, 2007.
 This information will be updated within a few days as conditions
 warrant. We will begin daily advisories once we get enough snow.

 Backcountry Conditions: An inch of snow last night helped to freshen
 the snow surface, especially at lower elevations where we have melt
 freeze crusts. Above approximately 8,000ft our one inch fell onto a
 softer snowpack that hadn't gotten Monday's rain. Above 8,000ft the
 snowpack is becoming more supportive and in some places not bad for
 skiers, but punchy conditions are found throughout our area. Except
 for upper elevations, we need another storm for the backcountry to
 really open up.

 Avalanche Conditions: The foot of newer snow from Monday and Tuesday's
 snowfall has consolidated, gained some strength and is less reactive.

 However, the weak November snow has not gained much more strength and
 is a poor base layer beneath this new slab. It is certainly not as
 likely to trigger an avalanche as earlier in the week, but it remains
 possible to trigger a slide on steeper slopes of mid thirty degree
 slope angles or greater. Especially in steep, rocky terrain. We still
 have an early season, variable snowpack so watch for changing snowpack
 conditions & stability as you travel from place to place, particularly
 as you gain elevation.

 Weather Outlook: It looks like we have a chance of small snow
 accumulations tonight and tomorrow as a storm passes to our south.

 Colder air is expected to enter our region along with wind from the
 north Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Sunday promises to be cold but
 sunny. We may see some snow on Tuesday or Wednesday, but at this point
 the forecast models are uncertain.