Today's avalanche report is brought to you by Woodside RV - Blaine County's Polaris and Arctic Cat Dealer. Good Morning, this is David Gordon with the Forest Service Sun Valley Avalanche Center with the Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for Friday, January 28, 2000 at 7am. Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be: MODERATE on slopes steeper than approximately 35 degrees, with this danger being most acute on colder aspects in the central and south valley. MODERATE HAZARD means that natural avalanches are unlikely, human triggered avalanches are possible and unstable slabs are possible on steep terrain. Synopsis: BRRRR! - While things are not changing appreciably on a daily basis out there, the cold temperatures that began yesterday and should carry through the weekend, will promote the formation of faceted crystals in the upper layers of the snowpack. This leads to a general weakening of these layers through loss of crystal cohesion - not a problem now, but add a new snowload and you begin to get the picture - buried weak layer. Watch for this process as you get out this weekend. It is also noteworthy that things are significantly weaker on colder aspects in the central valley, where the faceted snow below storm #9 remains dry and well-developed. While the snow above this layer has densified into a well developed slab in many locations, and thus skis well, stability tests indicate that the right snowmobiler or skier in the wrong location could trigger a good-sized slide. Weather Discussion: As I've indicated, it's time to break out the sun-screen and heavy long-johns - it looks like a return to mid-winter temperatures as a high pressure ridge under a northerly flow aloft should give us clear skies and cold temps through most of the weekend, with the next chance of snow coming early next week. Local Forecast: Ridgetop winds: N 10-20 10,000ft temps: max: 15 min: 0 snow: None valley floor: max temp today: 28 low: 5 Titus Ridge at 10,000ft reports: Onite low: 5 max temp: 16 presently: 6 Winds currently: 15 NW 24hr average: 8 NW max gust: 21 NW New snow: 0 storm Interval #: 13 Total depth at Galena Summit: 43" Bald Mtn. At 9000ft reports: Onite low: 9 Max temp: 27 presently: 11 Winds currently: 6 W 24hr. average: 5NW max gust: 13 NW New snow: 0 Total depth: 44" Valley Floor at 5800ft reports: Onite low: -1 max temp: 31 New snow: 0 Total depth: 28 Best Snow Conditions: Are going to be found on upper elevation north and east tending slopes today. Tip for the day: Remember that there is no avalanche control on the backsides of Baldy. If you ski these areas, you should treat them like the backcountry snowpack that they are, and be carrying at a minimum, an avalanche tranceiver, shovel and probe. You should also be assessing the stability of each slope prior to skiing it - don't assume the slope is safe just because there are already already tracks on it. Any and all snow and weather observations are very helpful to us. Please call our observer hotline at 622-0099 if you do get out today. Beacon clinic and practice 3pm every Thursday next to Bigwood Bread in the light industrial center. Sponsored by Backwoods Mtn Sports. If you haven't seen our video: Riding Safely in Avalanche Country, check it out. This video is for sale at local snowmobile shops, the ERC, Ketchum Ranger District, through nac@sunvalley.net, and for rent from the Video Depot in Hailey and Ketchum. All proceeds go to avalanche education. Please be careful not to stress wintering wildlife. There have been numerous reports of ski tracks near groups of elk in the central valley most notably in the Durrance area. Stay at least one half mile away from both elk and mountain goats. This forecast and lots of great avalanche information is available daily on the internet at www.avalanche.org and www.csac.org. To subscribe to a daily e-mail service of this advisory, go through csac.org. This forecast only applies to the backcountry and it is based on a limited number of observations in specific locations.