Colorado Avalanche Information Center Bulletin This is Denny at the CAIC with current information on mountain weather, snow and avalanche conditions recorded at 7:00 am, Wednesday, January 23, 2002. DISCUSSION New snow amounts reported early this morning were: Winter Park 5", Aspen Highlands 5.5, Vail 5, A-Basin 2",Breckenridge 3, Molas Pass 3.5, Coal Bank Pass 2". Today, cold and cloudy with snow showers to light snow going in most mountain areas this morning. Decreasing moisture and increasing NW winds by tonight with drier air moving into Colorado. Thursday and Friday, a ridge of high pressure will move in from the West. The forecast details: Northern Mountains Wednesday: Cloudy. Snow showers to light snow, T-2" additional. Winds NW/10-20. Highs 2-12. Wednesday night: Mostly Cloudy, clearing late. Winds NW/20-30 G40 above TL. Lows 0 to -10. Thursday: Clear early increasing clouds late. Winds W/10-20 G30s. Highs 4 to 14. Lows -8 to +2. Friday: Partly cloudy, Winds W-SW/10-20. Highs 18-28. Central Mountains Wednesday: Cloudy to partly cloudy. Snow showers to light snow, T-1" additional. Winds NW-W/10-20. Highs 5-15. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, clearing late. Winds NW/20-30 G40 above TL. Lows 0 to -10. Thursday: Clear. Winds WNW/10-20 G30s. Highs 5 to 15. Lows -8 to +2. Friday: Partly cloudy, Winds W-SW/10-20. Highs 18-28. Southern Mountains Wednesday: Clearing. Snow showers possible on the High Peaks. Winds W/10-20. Highs 5-15. Wednesday night: Clear to partly cloudy. Winds NW/20-30 G40 above TL. Lows -3 to +7. Colder in the valley's Thursday: Clear. Winds W/10-20 G30s. Highs 4 to 14. Lows -8 to +2. Friday: Clear, Winds SW/10-20. Highs 22-32. SNOWPACK The last 24 hrs new snow amounts of 2-5 inches in the mountains have added another layer to our snowpack. Today, expect winds to transport this snow into lee zones and our backcountry danger will increase on slopes facing N-SW. Reports continue to filter in of triggered releases that indicate that the snowpack is tender in many areas, watch those that have wind slab sitting on top of a weak snowpack. Backcountry travelers are reminded to use caution, carry rescue gear, (and know how to use it), go one at a time and keep an eye on you partner in hazardous terrain. The backcountry avalanche danger: N mtns: generally MODERATE near & above TL, but locally CONSIDERABLE on N-SE aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Below TL, LOW. C mtns: overall MODERATE near & above TL. Below TL the danger is rated LOW. S mtns: W San Juans MODERATE near & above TL, LOW below TL; in the E San Juans the danger is generally LOW with pockets of MODERATE on recently drifted slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Hogan