This is Matt Lutz of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 7:30 am.

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

 Bottom Line:
 The avalanche danger in the South Valley, Central Valley and Soldier
 Mountain area is estimated to be MODERATE. South aspects are the
 major concern especially through the warmest hours of the day. Human
 triggered wet slab avalanches are possible on solar aspects.

 The avalanche danger in the North Valley and Sawtooth Mountains is
 estimated to be LOW.

 Expect increasing danger on all solar aspects with todays daytime
 heating.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Our forecast area is under the influence of a high pressure system
 that is providing mild temperatures with valley inversions. Upper
 elevations in our southern terrain have not had a temperature freeze
 in the last 22 hours. Today Baldys high temperatures could hit 45
 degrees and Titus could see temperatures in the high 30s. Today the
 sun and ambient temperature will quickly soften all solar aspects.

 Expect increasing avalanche danger on all solar aspects. Low to mid
 elevation terrain and areas with a thin snowpack will also be
 vulnerable to todays high temperatures.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 
 
 
 Over the last few weeks we have been talking about a crust facet
 interface as a problem on solar aspects. I have some good news and
 some bad news concerning solar aspects in our southern terrain. The
 good news first, recent warm temps have helped settle the snowpack and
 the crust facet interface is less of a problem. Now the bad news, very
 moist depth hoar just above the ground is now supporting the entire
 snowpack. Yesterday this moist layer above the ground produced easy
 results on solar aspects in the Timber Gulch area.

 I suspect that the crust facet interface is still present and could
 still pose a problem at upper elevations and in our northern terrain.

 This layer is approximately 2 feet deep.

 Additional Discussion I would basically avoid most solar aspects
 today. Looking at the big picture I would say this is a pretty good
 time to go touring. Although skiing conditions are not at an all time
 high this is a good time to hit the higher mountains and routes that
 are not recommended during times of poor stability. Keep in mind that
 when you are in bigger and steeper terrain, the use of good mountain
 travel technique cannot be overstated. This is the case even in times
 of LOW danger. This means exposing one person at a time, using
 good communication within your group, moving from one island of safety
 to another and avoiding areas that have a thin variable depth
 snowpack. Get out there and have fun.

 Current Conditions:
 Riding conditions right now are highly variable. Sheltered shady
 slopes offer nice soft surface snow. Surface crusts are present on
 many low to mid elevation slopes and on solar aspects.

 Ketchum is under clear skies with a temperature of 10 degrees. Both
 Baldy and Titus already have a temperature of 33 degrees with light
 easterly winds.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 An upper level high pressure ridge will continue to dominate our
 weather picture through Thursday. Wednesday will likely have cooler
 temperatures with ridge top daytime highs in the high 20s to low 30s.

 Light winds with no precipitation are expected through Thursday.