This is Janet Kellam of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 7:30 am.

 Bottom Line:
 
 In the North Valley, Sawtooth and Smoky Mountains:
 Generally LOW with MODERATE danger of triggering a slab
 avalanche isolated to very steep, northerly facing slopes in either
 high alpine terrain or in very steep rocky areas. On warmer aspects
 the danger of triggering a wet slide will increase to MODERATE
 with daytime heating.

 In the South and Central Valley and areas with a shallow snowpack:
 MODERATE danger of triggering a slab avalanche on steep northerly
 facing slopes where weak and loose January snow lies beneath surface
 slabs. On warmer aspects that still have snow cover, the danger of
 triggering a wet slide will increase to CONSIDERABLE with daytime
 heating.

 OUTLOOK: Temperatures are expected to warm significantly on Sunday.

 Watch for an increasing danger of wet slides on or beneath steep
 slopes as the snowpack becomes wet, loose and punchy.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:
 
 Only an inch of new snow fell overnight in most locations. The Salmon
 Headwaters has accumulated 5 or 6 new inches of snow since last
 weekend. Although not large, deeper surface sluffs and loose wet
 slides of this newer snow will be possible in this area.

 For anyone who went out yesterday hoping for softening crusts and
 spring-like conditions I owe you an apology. Snow surfaces remained
 frozen at mid to upper elevations unlike my forecast. If it is any
 consolation, I ended up skidding around out there on the icy crusts,
 too. Waiting for spring conditions that never materialized.

 The good news is the cooler conditions promoted a better freeze down
 into our snowpack at mid to upper elevations. It was still loose and
 wet down in the pack yesterday but melt freeze crusts up to 8 inches
 thick were very supportive on south facing slopes in the Galena area.

 It will take a day or more of significant heating to produce wet
 slides on mid to upper elevation slopes where we have a deeper, more
 solid snowpack. Spring-like conditions could be good on these slopes
 this morning. Once the snow gets wet and loose it becomes increasingly
 possible to trigger a wet slide on steeper slopes. Watch for this
 condition as we get into the afternoon.

 Closer to town and at lower elevations the snowpack is thinner and
 weaker. Temperatures are warmer and the day heats up quickly due to
 all the exposed earth. Last night, lower elevations remained warm
 while upper elevations cooled down. It is important to look at shallow
 snow regions as a very different snowpack than up north or back in the
 Smoky and Sawtooth Mountains. Wet slides can quickly become possible
 in these weak snowpacks once the day warms and crusts soften.

 Secondary Avalanche Concern:
 
 In locations with a shallower snowpack, a lingering concern exists for
 the upside down nature of the weak January snowpack which lies beneath
 1 to 3 feet of denser February snow.

 In the Central and South Valley this condition exists on most slopes
 on shady aspects. Although not likely, it does remain possible to
 trigger a slab avalanche on very steep slopes. Any wet slides in these
 areas will dig out the entire snowpack to the ground due to the weak,
 loose nature of the underlying snow.

 In locations with a deeper, more solid snowpack this problem is
 isolated to very steep rocky slopes and high alpine terrain, and can
 be easily avoided.

 Current Conditions:
 
 Most mountain locations received only an inch or two of snow
 overnight. Early morning temperatures are near 20 degrees at upper
 elevations and 26 to 28 degrees on the valley floors. Winds have been
 light to moderate from the southwest shifting northwest overnight and
 only moved a little surface snow onto leeward slopes. There are some
 isolated wind slabs in very high alpine terrain due to this past weeks
 wind.

 Lower elevations received only a modest freeze, and crusts may not
 hold up past the morning with todays sun & heat. Crusts on south
 facing slopes at mid to upper elevations should be well frozen and
 supportive into the early afternoon. Wrap towards the cooler aspects
 and the crusts will become thinner and more breakable; we are not in
 full spring conditions yet. Due north-facing lines above 8,500 feet
 still have powder conditions but drop lower or swing slightly east or
 west and crusts exist.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 
 Today promises to be a beautiful day. Mountain top clouds should
 lessen with only a slight chance of snow showers as a ridge of high
 pressure builds.

 Expect winds to be light from the northwest and daytime highs reaching
 37 degrees on Baldy, near 30 degrees at 10,000feet and upper 40s near
 50 degrees on the valley floor. Sunny locations will feel really warm
 with a classic spring day.