This is Matt Lutz of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Blaine County Search and Rescue & the Friends of the Sawtooth
 Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be MODERATE. This means
 that human triggered avalanches are possible. The areas with the
 highest potential for a human trigger avalanche are southerly aspects
 that have been recently wind loaded. Solar aspects throughout our
 forecast area still have a troublesome crust/facet interface about 2
 to 3 feet deep. The recent warm temperatures have been helping to
 consolidate and settle our snowpack. Even with this improving trend,
 solar aspects and areas with a thin shallow snowpack should be
 approached with caution.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 In the South and Central Valley the snowpack structure is thin and
 generally weak. In the North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains the snow
 pack is generally deeper and more consolidated. Throughout our
 forecast area steep solar aspects have a crust/facet interface
 approximately 2 to 3 feet deep. Last weeks northwesterly winds and the
 weekends warm temperatures caused a widespread natural and human
 triggered avalanche cycle on this crust/facet interface. We have not
 seen any new slides on this layer in the last few days but the root of
 the problem still exists and these areas should still be avoided.

 Snowpack discussion The recent warm temperatures initially caused a
 widespread avalanche cycle, but in the longer run will help
 consolidate and settle our snowpack. Todays high temperatures will
 likely occur in the am hours as we are expecting a weak Pacific storm
 to sweep through our area. This incoming system is expected to bring
 colder temperatures with it. Todays colder temperatures will continue
 to help stabilize the snowpack.

 Terrain like the South Valley, Central Valley and Soldier Mountain
 area that have a generally thin and weak snowpack remain a concern.

 This is due to the overall poor snowpack structure. This structure
 consists of a slab over a layer of weak faceted snow near the ground.

 A cautious approach should be used in these areas on any steep or wind
 loaded slopes.

 Current Conditions:
 Sheltered north and northeasterly aspects are still offering up some
 reasonable soft snow riding conditions. West and northwest aspects are
 pretty much wind hammered. Southerly aspects are awesome right now if
 you thrive on breakable crust and head plants.

 This morning Ketchum is under cloudy skies with a temperature of 26
 degrees. Ridge top temperatures are around 20 degrees with light
 westerly winds.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 This morning a weak Pacific system is expected to sweep through our
 forecast area. Today expect partly to mostly cloudy conditions with
 occasional snow showers. Drier and cooler air is expected to settle
 over the Central Mountains by this afternoon. This mornings moderate
 westerly winds will shift to the northwest by this afternoon. Ridge
 top daytime high temperatures should be in the mid 20s and valley high
 temperatures will be in the low 30s. Thursday should continue to see
 cooler temperatures with a few clouds.