This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at 7:30 am.

 The Wattis Dumke Foundation & the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche
 Center bring you this advisory.

 Special Announcement:
 Merry Christmas Everyone. This advisory is dedicated to all those snow
 safety professionals and my co-forecasters working throughout this
 holiday season. Thank you all!

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be CONSIDERABLE on
 steep, wind loaded slopes at upper elevations in the Central and South
 Valley and in high alpine terrain. MODERATE danger exists
 elsewhere. In steep rocky terrain it may be possible to trigger a very
 large avalanche if the newer snow breaks down into the old weak layers
 formed in early December.

 Conditions are variable and we do have persistent weak layers within
 the snowpack. Evaluate each slope on a case by case basis and use
 conservative decision making and good terrain selection until more
 consistent stabilization occurs.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Several new slides were observed yesterday afternoon beneath south and
 southwest facing ridgelines near the head of Eagle Creek. One was
 quite large. Other high elevation slides most likely ran yesterday
 afternoon and evening due to the strong wind & blowing snow. Watch for
 sensitive wind slabs of all sizes and even mid slope in some unusual
 places or cross loaded areas.

 Temperatures took a dramatic dive yesterday as a cold front blew into
 the area. It is difficult to predict if the wind slabs that formed
 will be brittle and sensitive or better bonded to the old snow and not
 easily triggered. This may vary with your elevation and location
 today.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Very weak snow still lies near the base of the snowpack throughout the
 Central and South Valley. In other parts of our forecast area weak
 underlying snow is found in steep rocky terrain. Although not likely,
 it remains possible to trigger a slide on steep slopes with this
 condition. Stay alert for weak punchy snow beneath the surface
 anywhere you travel, especially with recent wind loading or where this
 last storm brought more than a few inches of new snow.

 Current Conditions:
 The further north and further back into the mountains you travel, more
 snow appears to have accumulated on Monday. The western and northern
 Sawtooths gained a foot of snow at upper elevations, 5 or 6 inches in
 the Salmon Headwaters, a bit less at Galena Summit and only 3 or 4
 inches in Ketchum.

 Strong northwest winds swirled and blew just about everywhere.

 Temperatures plummeted from early morning highs near 30 degrees in
 most locations to overnight lows near zero and 10 degrees in Ketchum.

 Sheltered areas have excellent powder conditions although we still
 have thin and punchy conditions at lower elevations and at all
 elevations south of the North Fork of the Bigwood. Exposed slopes will
 have a mixed bag of wind textured snow.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 Today expect increasing clouds on the heels of a beautiful Christmas
 morning. Light winds will blow from the north, gusting in the teens
 and shifting more westerly as another storm system moves in. Only a
 couple inches of snow are forecast tonight and into Wednesday morning.

 Temperatures will only reach the low to mid teens at upper elevations,
 but should rise to 20 to 25 degrees on the valley floor. We will see
 near zero degrees tonight in all locations.

 Tip for the day:
 The avalanche rescue training park is up and operating on Sun Valley
 Road. All you need is a beacon and a probe to practice. It is free,
 self operating with easy instructions.