This is Chris Lundy of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Monday, February 18, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW in the North
 Valley and Sawtooth Mountains, and MODERATE in the South and
 Central Valley. The snowpack in our southern mountains continues to
 show poor structure with a consolidated slab overlying layers of weak
 faceted snow.

 Use increasing caution on sunny slopes with warming afternoon
 temperatures and sunshine today. A strengthening facet/crust
 combination found on southerly aspects throughout our region remains a
 concern, and the potential for wet snow avalanches at lower elevations
 will increase this afternoon.

 Old wind slabs throughout our area should be approached with caution,
 especially where they are hard and supportable or have a hollow,
 drum-like sound.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 The snowpack in the South and Central Valley has a pronounced weak
 structure with a consolidated slab around 2 feet thick overlying weak
 facet layers. With at least a couple key avalanche ingredients
 remaining intact, human-triggered avalanches are possible and I would
 place less faith in the snowpack here than in our northern area.

 In our Northern Mountains including the Salmon Headwaters and Sawtooth
 Mountains, the snowpack is generally deeper and better consolidated.

 On sheltered north aspects with a deep snowpack, it is hard to
 identify a significant weak layer. In steep, rocky, or alpine terrain,
 the snowpack may remain shallow and faceted at its base, and these
 areas should be approached more cautiously.

 Additional Snowpack Discussion:
 Yesterdays temperatures did not climb as high as forecast and wet snow
 problems seemed minimal. If we experience warmer temperatures today,
 youll want to use increasing caution on south-facing aspects
 throughout our region where a facet/crust combination may be buried
 around 2 feet deep. Wet snow sluffs may become a problem as well,
 especially at lower elevations.

 I did a tour in the high peaks of the Boulder Mountains yesterday and
 felt comfortable with the stability in most places except where there
 were old wind slabs. Most of these were very hard and it was difficult
 to tell what was beneath them without a jackhammer. Some of these hard
 slabs are undoubtedly sitting atop weak, sugary snow, especially in
 our southern mountains. Use caution around any slab that is hard and
 supportable, or feels hollow beneath.

 Current Conditions:
 Temperatures yesterday did not warm as much as forecast and reached
 the upper 20s to near freezing at upper elevations, and yesterdays
 high in Ketchum was 32 degrees. Temperatures this morning are strongly
 inverted with the low to mid 20s up high and only 5 degrees in the
 valley. Ridgeline winds on Baldy have been fairly light, and on Titus
 theyve been averaging 10-15 mph from the northwest.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 A broad ridge of high pressure will remain over the region through
 tomorrow, so expect sunny skies again today. Mountain temperatures
 should reach the high 20s to low 30s, and a high around 32 degrees is
 expected in Ketchum. Ridgeline winds are forecasted to average 5-15
 mph from the north to northwest.