INTRODUCTION: 
   This is Stan Bones with the backcountry avalanche advisory issued at
   5:00 AM by the U.S. Forest Service Glacier Country Avalanche Center on
   Tuesday, January 29, 2008, for the Glacier Park and Flathead and
   Kootenai National Forest areas.

                              HAZARD ANALYSIS

   Between 5,000' and 7,500' elevation the avalanche danger is currently
   rated HIGH on the Kootenai and CONSIDERABLE over the remainder of the
   region. Below 5,000' we're rating the avalanche danger LOW.
   These danger ratings expire at midnight Tuesday, January 29th. The
   outlook is for the avalanche danger to remain at for above current
   levels throughout the week.
   Because of the general nature of this advisory message, each
   backcountry party will always need to make their own time and site
   specific avalanche hazard evaluations.

   WEATHER ANALYSIS: 
   Last week Northwestern Montana saw a gradual erosion of the cold, dry
   arctic air that blasted the region the previous weekend. Then
   beginning on Saturday we were subjected to another dramatic weather
   tag team event. First on Saturday and into midday on Sunday a moist,
   warm Pacific flow built to produce dramatic warming with new snowfall
   in the mountains and eventually rain in the valleys. Mountain
   temperatures peaked Saturday night and Sunday morning in many
   locations around 30 degrees F. Then Sunday evening the other member of
   the tag team, another blast of arctic air, slammed into the region
   from British Columbia and Alberta. Again temperatures plummeted into
   the teens and single digits. Locations along the Continental Divide
   saw approx. a 50 degree F fall in air temperature in 18 hours.

   By Monday morning new snowfall amounts of 12-20 inches were not
   uncommon in the mountains from the weekend's weather. The wind favored
   passes along the Continental Divide plus the wind favored valleys and
   canyons west of the divide saw strong E'erly winds Monday, while much
   of the remainder of the region experienced only light breezes.
   SNOWPACK ANALYSIS: 
   Our backcountry observations Monday were in the Libby Creek drainage
   in the East Cabinets on the Kootenai, south of Libby and in Noisy
   Basin, NE of Bigfork in the Swan Range.

   In our snowpits and observations we are seeing instability associated
   with the deep, newly fallen surface snow. Coming out of last week's
   cold conditions, Sunday's warming and dramatic snowloading produced
   some slab avalanching around the region. Monday's cold, dry snow is
   low density and adding little stress to the snowpack, but likewise it
   brings with it little strength. In the wind favored areas we are
   finding wind loaded snow on lee slopes. This transported snow is often
   capturing beneath it weaker layers of cold, less dense snow.

   AVALANCHE - INSTABILITY DESCRIPTION:
   We're currently rating the avalanche danger between the elevations of
   5,000 and 7,500' as HIGH on steep, open slopes in the Kootenai region.
   Unstable slab layers are likely on a variety of aspects and slope
   angles. Both natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Travel
   in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Safest travel is on windward
   ridges or on lower angle slopes without steeper terrain above.

   Elsewhere around the region between the elevations of 5,000 and
   7,500', the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE. Unstable new snow,
   slab layers are probable on steep terrain. Natural avalanches are
   possible, while human triggered avalanches are probable. Backcountry
   travelers should be very cautious in steeper terrain. Be aware of
   potentially dangerous areas of unstable snow.

   Below 5,000 ft. elevation we're rating the avalanche danger as LOW. A
   more shallow snow there is often anchored by vegetation and terrain
   features and generally stable with only isolated areas of instability.
   Natural avalanches are very unlikely, while human triggered avalanches
   are unlikely. Backcountry travel is generally safe, but normal caution
   is still advised on any steep, open slope.

   WEATHER FORECAST & AVALANCHE OUTLOOK:

   
   The weather forecast is for another Pacific weather system to move
   into the region Tuesday. Cold surface temperatures combining with the
   westerly flow is expected to produce upslope, orographic snowfall.
   Another weather system is forecasted to impact the region Thursday and
   Thursday night. Cold temperatures are expected to linger. SW winds are
   forecasted to be light, but combined with new snowfall we could see
   some transport and loading of snow on leeward slopes. Until we see a
   break in the weather and the existing deep snow settles down,
   backcountry travelers will need to remain vigilant and avoid unstable
   snow. Travel in complex avalanche terrain is not recommended.
   This week we begin our avalanche safety and awareness training session
   for snowmobilers. The program consists of four evening lectures on
   Tuesdays and Thursdays along with two Sunday field sessions. For more
   information call Stan Bones in the evenings at 837-6022 or check the
   GCAC website at [23]www.glacieravalanche.org
   The next regularly scheduled update of this advisory message will be
   Friday, February 1st.