INTRODUCTION: This is Tony Willits with the backcountry avalanche advisory issued by the U.S. Forest Service Glacier Country Avalanche Center at 8:00 AM, Friday, February 22nd for the Glacier Park and Flathead and Kootenai National Forest areas. HAZARD ANALYSIS Between 5000 and 7500 feet of elevation the avalanche danger is currently being rated as MODERATE. Below 5000 feet of elevation the avalanche danger is currently being rated as LOW. These danger ratings expire at midnight, Friday, February 22nd. The outlook is for the avalanche danger to remain at current levels through the weekend. 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: No new gains in snow accumulations since Tuesday. The temperature has been a big instigator in settlement of the snowpack. Temperatures have been seasonably warm during the day and cold at night. Winds have been light to moderate at ridge tops since Tuesday. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS: Our backcountry observations Thursday were from the Rescue Creek drainage on the Flathead National Forest and Bald Eagle Peak in the East Cabinets on the Kootenai National Forest. The warming temperatures and sunny weather coupled with colder night time temps have put the big settle on the snowpack. The surface 20 to 50 cms, dependent on aspect and elevation, are where the more apparent unstable interfaces are located. These interfaces are usually associated with sun crusts, melt freeze crusts developed in the last ten days, or buried surface hoar. Stress tests were revealing crisp shears but were requiring at least moderate force to release them. Roller ball activity along with point releases were occurring or had occurred in the past few days on solar aspects. Surface hoar development is apparent and should be factored into stability evaluations with the arrival of new snow fall. AVALANCHE - INSTABILITY DESCRIPTION: Between 5000 and 7500 feet in elevation we are currently rating the avalanche danger as MODERATE where unstable slab layers are possible on steep terrain. Natural avalanches are unlikely, while human triggered avalanches are possible. Backcountry travelers should use caution in steeper terrain on certain aspects. Below 5000 feet of elevation the avalanche danger is currently being rated as LOW where snow is generally stable with only isolated areas of instability. Natural avalanches are very unlikely, while human triggered avalanches are unlikely. Backcountry travel is generally safe. Normal caution is advised. WEATHER FORECAST & AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: ` A ridge of high pressure will persist through tonight, with a weak disturbance moving through the Northern Rockies Friday afternoon and into Friday night. Similar conditions tonight as compared to previous nights. This system will bring a couple of inches to the higher terrain by Saturday morning. Temperatures are not expected to moderate much with this system. Another system is expected for Sunday. Temperature inversions with solar heating to slopes especially at upper elevations could fool those who climb on these solar influenced aspects. Warming at upper elevations on southerly aspects especially on slopes involving rock bands or cliffs, are areas to avoid as daytime temperatures warm. Due to spatial variability across terrain with the more intense warming, could result in triggering a small avalanche that could pull out bigger and deeper from above on some of the more persistent layers that have occurred within the snowpack this winter. Safe route location on all aspects in regards to up and down tracks are just as important during these times of settlement especially when factoring in spatial variability. Please note that this avalanche advisory is our best interpretation of snowpack conditions and National Weather Service forecasts on the day the advisory is issued. Unanticipated weather changes such as wind, a marked temperature increase, or precipitation beyond forecast amounts can increase the avalanche danger. Local variations may also exist. The next avalanche advisory will be on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008.