This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Friday, March 25, 2005 at 7 am.

 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be:
 North Wood River Valley & Sawtooth Region:
 CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger at mid to upper elevations on northerly
 facing slopes 35 degrees or steeper.

 MODERATE danger exists on other steep slopes.

 Northerly facing aspects have 16 inches or more of recent snow that
 has formed a slab on top of weak, faceted snow. Stabilization will
 take much longer on cold, shady slopes than warmer aspects where the
 newer snow has bonded to underlying crusts. On warmer aspects and
 north aspects sluffing of the newer snow will be possible, especially
 with daytime heating or direct sun.

 Central and South Wood River Valley (South of the SNRA):
 MODERATE avalanche danger at mid to upper elevations on slopes 35
 degrees or steeper.

 Upper elevation north facing slopes in this area have a foot of snow
 or more on top of a weak, faceted snowpack and it will be possible to
 trigger a slide. On warmer aspects the new snow has bonded to the old
 crusts, but surface sluffs are a concern with daytime heating or
 direct sun.

 OUTLOOK: Cool mountain temperatures are expected to warm dramatically
 by Sunday as a storm system develops. Anticipate changing snow and
 avalanche conditions throughout the weekend as the weather changes.

 Snowpack Discussion:
 Yesterday, snow showers continued over the northern mountains with
 some brief spells of sunshine. Upper elevations picked up an inch or
 two of new snow. Winds remained light and westerly, although some thin
 windslabs formed in very exposed areas. Upper elevation temperatures
 remained cool above 9,000feet. Baldy and Titus only made it into the
 mid 20 degree range and are in the single digits and teens this
 morning. Warmer aspects developed moist surface snow while northerly
 facing slopes had excellent powder conditions.

 There were no new reports of triggered slab avalanches yesterday.

 Several triggered sluffs occurred in the Titus area on north and south
 aspects and they grew quite large and ran further than expected.

 Collapsing of the snowpack was widespread around Titus Ridge, but
 reports from Mushroom Ridge and the Williams hut in the northern
 Sawtooths indicated little collapsing.

 A significant deep slab problem has developed on northwest, north and
 northeast aspects and it needs a bit of time for stability to improve.

 Due to a shallow snowpack and colder temperatures, shady slopes have a
 cohesive slab of March snow that sits on weak, non-cohesive snow.

 Stability tests on 36 degree slopes show Compression tests in the 12
 to 16 range, Rutschblocks fail with a number 3.
 With a deep slab avalanche condition, tracks on a slope do not prove
 that the slope will not avalanche. It may fail after many skiers or
 riders. The best options are to choose lower angle slopes, avoid sharp
 breakovers, skirt rock outcroppings where weaker snow is near the
 surface and slides may be triggered more easily or ride and slide on
 warmer aspects where the weak facets do not exist.

 The late March sun is intense when it comes out. The danger of wet
 sluffs will increase quite rapidly on slopes that get any direct sun
 today.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 There is a chance of lingering snow showers in the high mountains
 today. Otherwise, expect clear skies and cool temperatures. Daytime
 highs should reach 20 degrees at 10,000 feet, mid thirties at 8,000
 feet and 43 degrees on the valley floor. Locations receiving direct
 sun will feel warmer, as it is nearly April!

 Winds will remain light and out of the northwest at upper elevations,
 although stronger winds will blow along the edge of the prairie and in
 the Soldier Mountain area.

 Expect rising temperatures throughout the weekend as a southwest flow
 develops and a warm, wet storm promises to enter our area by late
 Saturday.

 Tip for the day:
 On the northerly aspects, where the best powder is, the snowpack
 remains unstable on steep slopes. It is not the typically stable
 spring snowpack and this condition can often fool people in March and
 April. We need any observations from you if you get out the next few
 days to help us track instabilities.