This is Chris Lundy of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Monday, March 10, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW. The danger of
 wet snow avalanches on steep, southerly aspects will increase to
 MODERATE with daytime heating. The snowpack throughout our region
 is generally stable, and the primary concern continues to be small wet
 snow sluffs as the snow surface becomes mushy.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:

 
 

 

 

 Over a month has gone by since our last significant snowfall and the
 snowpack has become fairly bomber. It seems that only a few diehards
 remain committed to the search for preserved powder and ripening corn.

 Now is certainly the time to take advantage of the stability and
 explore steeper terrain that is typically too dangerous in early
 winter.

 The main stability concern continues to be smaller wet snow avalanches
 as the day heats up and the snow surface on solar aspects turns to
 mush. A good freeze occurred overnight at all elevations, but the
 surface crust will soften today under warming temperatures. How quickly
 this happens will depend largely on when the cloud cover begins
 increasing more clouds this morning may mean a delayed thaw. Be ready
 to head somewhere else if the mush gets deeper than 6-8 inches or you
 start breaking through the surface crust.

 Current Conditions:
 Skies were partly cloudy yesterday with mountain temperatures reaching
 the upper 20s to mid 30s. Temps on the valley floor hit 40 degrees.

 Temperatures this morning are well below freezing at all elevations.

 Ridgeline winds were light and variable yesterday but began increasing
 slightly this morning, and are currently blowing 10-15 mph from the
 northwest on both Titus and Baldy.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 The axis of the high pressure ridge will pass overhead today leading to
 a minor low pressure trough tomorrow. Unfortunately, the energy and
 moisture of the system will pass to the north but we may still pick up
 an inch or two during the day Tuesday. For today, expect mostly sunny
 skies this morning with increasing clouds during the day. Temperatures
 should be a bit warmer than yesterday, with mountain highs reaching 33
 to 37 degrees and the valley hitting the low 40s. Ridgeline winds
 should blow 5-15 mph from the northwest, eventually shifting to the
 southwest.