This is Matt Lutz of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 7 am.

 Bottom Line:
 
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be CONSIDERABLE. The
 exception will be along higher elevation northwest, north, and east
 facing ridgelines where the danger is estimated to be HIGH. The
 AVALANCHE WARNING that was issued on February 28th has been cancelled.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 This last storm brought a widespread avalanche cycle through out our
 forecast area. Low and mid elevations saw numerous wet point release
 slides on all aspects. Mid and high elevations in the North and
 Central Valley saw numerous soft slab avalanches involving the storm
 snow and the old surface snow on west, north and east aspects and
 point releases on south aspects. The average depth of the slab
 avalanches that I witnessed was about 10 inches with the maximum slab
 depth being around 20 inches.

 The new snow is now sitting on top of a very weak old snow surface.

 This has created the classic soft slab on a weak layer scenario. With
 last nights colder temperatures the new snow slab will be
 consolidating. This means that we probably will not see as many
 natural avalanches as yesterday, but that if a human triggers an
 avalanche today it may be larger than what was witnessed yesterday.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 Monday night thru midday Tuesday saw strong southwest winds through
 out our forecast area. These winds were redistributing a lot of snow
 on mid and high elevation ridgelines and exposed slopes. This wind
 deposited snow likely influenced many of the higher elevation slab
 avalanches previously mentioned.

 Use extra caution on northwest, north, northeast and east aspects
 along mid and high elevation ridgelines and exposed slopes that have
 wind drifts and pillows built in. These wind deposited features will
 likely be between 1 and 3 feet deep.

 Additional Discussion
 
 We have not received any observations from either the Sawtooth or
 Soldier Mountain areas since this last storm moved thru. I suspect
 that the Sawtooth Mountains probably experienced a cycle similar to
 that of the North Valley and that the Soldier Mountain area probably
 experienced similar conditions to the low and mid elevation cycle
 previously described.

 Todays temperatures are again expected to be mild with valley highs
 into the 40s. This combined with periods of sunshine will likely cause
 solar aspects to become unstable through the day. Watch out for roller
 ball and point release activity as signs of this occurring.

 Current Conditions:
 
 Most of the upper elevation terrain in our forecast area has received
 between 12 and 16 inches of new snow in the last two days. Lower angle
 terrain without steep terrain above will offer nice soft snow riding
 conditions on most aspects. Low and mid elevations saw as much rain as
 snow thru this last storm. Expect these areas to be crunchy this
 morning turning mushy with daytime warming.

 Ketchum is under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 23 degrees.

 Ridgeline winds are light out of the west with occasional moderate
 gusts and temperatures in the low teens.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 
 This morning we could see a few more isolated showers. These should
 end by midday as high pressure moves in. Temperatures will continue to
 be mild today but should cool considerably tonight. Today ridgeline
 winds will be light to moderate out of the west-southwest. Another
 storm will move into our area Thursday night but is not expected to be
 as moist as the last storm.

 Tip for the day:
 Today is not a day to go big!