This is Chris Lundy of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Monday, February 11, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be MODERATE. Warm
 temperatures are helping to strengthen the snowpack, but it remains
 possible to trigger a slide in some areas. In the South and Central
 Valley, weak faceted snow buried about 2 feet deep is gaining
 stability but its hard to place much faith in such a poor snowpack
 structure. In our northern mountains, the snowpack is generally deeper
 and stronger and unstable conditions are more isolated. Use caution in
 steep, rocky terrain where the snowpack remains weak and shallow, and
 also on southerly facing slopes where a crust-facet combination may be
 buried 2-3 feet deep.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 In the South and Central Valley, beneath the top 2 feet of snow the
 snowpack is generally weak and rotten all the way to the ground. A ski
 pole poked into the snowpack eventually falls through a trap door into
 weaker snow beneath the overlying slab. Stability tests in Indian
 Creek yesterday showed that these facets are gaining strength, but we
 still experienced a few collapses which tells me all is not
 hunky-dory. By definition I believe the avalanche danger to be
 Moderate in this area but I would never trust my life to such a poor,
 top-heavy snowpack structure. Carefully evaluate steeper terrain or
 any slope with poor consequences. Depth hoar snowpacks like we have in
 our southern mountains can be notoriously tricky.

 I have more confidence in the snowpack north of about the SNRA,
 although there are still some problem areas that need to be taken into
 consideration. Some southerly aspects have an ugly crust-facet layer
 buried about 2-3 feet deep, but given the poor sliding and riding
 conditions on these slopes this problem can be easily avoided. Another
 concern are shallow weak spots that can often be found in steep, rocky
 terrain. Slides triggered in these pockets of weaker snow tend to
 propagate out into areas with a stronger snowpack. If you travel from
 an area where the snowpack was deep and strong to somewhere where it
 feels shallow, punchy, or bottomless, your hackles should be up.

 Additional Snowpack Discussion
 Strong northwest winds blew again overnight, but after last week I
 dont think theres much snow left to transport. Nonetheless, watch out
 for fresh wind drifts today, and while youre at it, you might as well
 avoid older wind slabs as well, especially in our southern mountains
 where they may be sitting atop weak, faceted snow.

 Current Conditions:
 Yesterday mountain temperatures climbed into the low 30s under partly
 cloudy skies, and a high of 40 degrees was recorded in Ketchum.

 Northwest winds increased early this morning and are blowing 20-30 mph
 on both Titus Ridge and Bald Mountain. Currently, mountain
 temperatures are in the upper teens to low 20s and its 33 degrees in
 the valley.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 A dirty northwest flow will remain over our region today, bringing
 partly to mostly cloudy skies. Ridgeline winds will continue from the
 northwest at 15-25 mph, and winds on the valley floor are expected to
 persist through the morning. Mountain temperatures should reach the
 mid 20s to near 30 degrees, and a high in the upper 30s is expected in
 the valley.