This is Chris Lundy of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center
 with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for
 Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 The Twin Falls District Bureau of Land Management & the Friends of the
 Sawtooth Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW. The danger of
 wet snow avalanches on steep, southerly aspects will increase to
 MODERATE with daytime heating. The snowpack throughout our region
 is generally stable, and the primary concern continues to be small wet
 snow sluffs as the snow surface becomes mushy.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:

 
 

 

 

 Over a month has gone by since our last significant snowfall and the
 snowpack has become quite stable in most locations. Fortunately small
 storms have kept things fresh and consolidated powder can still be
 found on northerly aspects. Although backcountry interest seems to be
 waning, many people have been taking advantage of the good stability
 and exploring steeper terrain. Nows the time to do it.

 The main stability concern continues to be smaller wet snow avalanches
 as the day heats up and the snow surface on sunny aspects turns to
 mush. A good freeze occurred overnight at all elevations, and
 temperatures today arent supposed to be too sweltering. Still, pay
 attention to how wet the snow surface is getting and be ready to head
 somewhere else if the mush gets deeper than 6-8 inches or you start
 breaking through the surface crust. With Daylight Savings Time, youll
 have an extra hour before things get too wet, although it cost me an
 hour of sleep last night.

 Current Conditions:
 Cloud cover combined with cooler temperatures kept things locked up at
 upper elevations, but down low the snowpack became pretty mushy.

 Conditions look favorable for corn skiing today, and settled powder can
 still be found on sheltered north aspects.

 Temperatures yesterday reached the upper 20s to mid 30s in the
 mountains and near 40 in the valley. Ridgeline winds have been light
 from the northwest.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 High pressure builds into our area today although a few clouds are
 expected to hang around. Mountain temperatures should reach the upper
 20s to mid 30s, and a high near 40 is forecasted for the valley floor.

 Ridgeline winds should remain light from the northwest shifting to the
 west.