This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Friday, January 11, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation in partnership with Idaho's
 Snowmobile License Plate Program & the Friends of the Sawtooth
 Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

 Bottom Line:
 Central and South Wood River Valley and areas with a shallower
 snowpack:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be CONSIDERABLE on
 slopes approximately mid 30 degree slope angle and steeper. This means
 human triggered avalanches are likely in steep areas. One to two feet
 of newer snow lies on top of very loose, weak snow throughout this
 region.

 North Wood River Valley and areas with a deeper snowpack:
 The avalanche danger is estimated to be MODERATE, which means
 human triggered avalanches are possible on steeper slopes. Today and
 through the weekend it is important to approach these areas as if the
 avalanche danger were CONSIDERABLE due to the large amounts of
 snow these locations have received in the past week, last nights wind
 and the fact there is some uncertainty as to just where the
 instabilities are. Because of a highly variable snowpack, stable snow
 can be found adjacent to unstable slopes. The size of the avalanches
 that may be triggered is large.

 WEEKEND OUTLOOK: We expect these conditions to persist throughout the
 weekend, in spite of no new significant snowfall.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 In the Central and South Valley we are still finding collapsing and
 whumphing on a variety of slopes. Stability tests show the snowpack is
 strengthening, but the overlying slab and our persistently weak snow
 near the ground give me poor confidence in overall stability. The
 collapsing means the weak snow still has a problem supporting the new
 snow load and it remains very possible to trigger a slide.

 In the North Valley and areas with a deeper snowpack, the avalanche
 concerns are not as obvious and not as widespread, but it is possible
 to trigger a large and deadly avalanche. Not the best kind of odds to
 play with.

 Very weak snow exists in pockets at the base of the snowpack 1 to 6
 feet deep in steep rocky terrain. In addition a sporadic persistent
 weak layer of snow also exists beneath our recent snowfall 1 to 3 feet
 deep.

 The layers show fragile structure and poor bonding to the rest of the
 snow and are scattered throughout this region. Currently there is not
 a real pattern we can identify. This means it is important to approach
 each slope as if it has these buried weak faceted layers.

 Wednesday, the Heli-Ski Guides triggered a large avalanche from a safe
 ridgeline and from a distance because faceted snow existed beneath the
 snow surface and across the adjacent slope. They are being careful and
 evaluating each slope and area on a case by case basis. You should,
 too.

 The northern regions around the Salmon Headwaters and Dollarhide
 Summit have received 4 to 5 inches of water in the past week. If the
 sun pops out today our slightly warmer temperatures and any direct sun
 will add additional stress to the snowpack on steeper slopes in all
 regions.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Yesterdays winds shifted from the southwest to the northwest. They
 averaged in the teens but gusts from 30mph to nearly 50mph will have
 transported the light fluffy surface snow onto leeward slopes.

 Reports came in Wednesday afternoon of shallow windslabs forming in
 the Galena area and we received more snow and wind up there yesterday.

 Expect to find sensitive windslabs and wind drifting today in exposed
 locations. East facing slopes will be particularly suspect for new
 windslabs and extra wind loading on the buried weak layers.

 Current Conditions:
 Ketchum and Baldy received 5 inches of very light snowfall in the past
 24 hours. The Galena area and locations west and north received
 approximately a foot of snow. Due to warm air aloft, light drizzle was
 reported at Soldier Mountain and in the Northern Sawtooths. Surface
 powder conditions are excellent in the areas that escaped the drizzle.

 This morning the Wood River Valley appears to be a cold pocket
 surrounded by warmer temperatures. Baldy, Titus and Ketchum report in
 the low to mid teens. Galena Summit, Stanley and Fairfield are all
 reporting 20 to 25 degrees.

 Winds blew in the teens from the southwest yesterday, shifting to the
 northwest and gusting 20 to 30mph.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 Skies this morning are partly cloudy and satellite imagery shows a
 slight disturbance bringing snow showers and gusty northwest winds
 during the day. No real accumulation of snow is expected.

 Temperatures are forecast to be in the high teens on Titus, low
 twenties on Baldy and 25 to 35 degrees up to 8,000feet today. If the
 sun pops out watch for warmer feeling temperatures that may affect the
 snowpack.

 We can expect decreasing chance of snow showers and lighter winds with
 cooler temperatures for the weekend.

 Tip for the day:
 Saturday's Field Session (for those signed up from Tuesday night's
 class) meets at 9AM sharp at the SNRA Parking Lot. Be prepared to be
 outside all day long, bring warm clothes to layer, skis and skins or
 snowshoes, lunch, water, avalanche beacon probe and shovel. $25.
 Please cancel today 622-0095 if you are not coming.