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, March 28th for the Glacier Park and Flathead and Kootenai
   National Forest areas.
   HAZARD ANALYSIS
   Between 5000' and 7000' of elevation we are rating the avalanche danger
   as CONSIDERABLE.
   Below 5000 feet of elevation the avalanche danger is currently being
   rated as LOW.
   These danger ratings expire at midnight, Friday, March 28th.  The
   avalanche danger could escalate from the current level with new storm
   loading especially on wind loaded terrain.
   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:
   Gains in snow water equivalent ranged from .3 to 1.0 inches in the past
   24 hours.  Temperatures have remained on the cool side with below
   freezing temps during the day yesterday and mid teens last night.
   Winds picked up early yesterday and were at least moderate from the
   S/SW at ridge tops.

   SNOWPACK ANALYSIS:
   Our backcountry observations Thursday were from Noisy Basin on the
   Flathead National Forest and from the Poorman Basin in the East
   Cabinets on the Kootenai National Forest.
   Colder temperatures are maintaining near surface instabilities within
   the top 30 to 50 cms. These faceted interfaces are overlying some weak
   to strong crust layers. Easy forces were triggering test results with
   dirty surfaces 10 to 20 down and cleaner and crisper surfaces 40 to 50
   centimeter's down from the surface.  The buried surface hoar layer is
   still present and releasing crisp and clean although bridged from above
   with a moderately hard slab.  This interface will be down from the
   surface 80 to 120 cms.  This persistent weak layer would create a deep
   crown fracture under the right conditions.  This concern is primarily
   on north aspects.  Convex rolls on these northerly aspects are the
   primary weak areas and are still getting triggered by skiers and
   snowmobilers as word trickles down.   Wind loading at upper elevation
   ridge tops and predicted new snow will potentially add overlying stress
   to these convex rolls, especially on northerly aspects, in the next few
   days.

   AVALANCHE - INSTABILITY DESCRIPTION:
   Between 5000 and 7000 feet of elevation, the avalanche danger is
   currently being rated as CONSIDERABLE where unstable slab layers are
   probable with special attention directed to northerly aspects and wind
   loaded terrain.  Natural avalanches are possible, while human triggered
   avalanches are probable. Backcountry travelers should be very cautious
   on steep aspects. Be aware of potentially dangerous areas of unstable
   snow.

   Below 5000 feet of elevation the avalanche danger is currently being
   rated as  LOW, 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:
   `
   Snow showers will continue this afternoon and evening as a disturbance
   continues to move off to the east.  Generally 1 to 2 inches of
   additional snow accumulations can be expected under these showers.
   These showers will be mainly in Northwestern Montana and the Glacier
   Park Region.  Another much more impressive low pressure system will
   arrive to the Northern Rockies by Friday evening.  Moderate to heavy
   snow accumulations will be possible Friday night and Saturday with the
   main focus in the mountains of Northwest Montana and Glacier  Park .
   Snow will continue through Sunday as this trough passes through the
   area.

   The next storm system is pushing the avalanche hazard upward through
   today and the weekend.  Snowfall, coupled with wind loading, even with
   only moderate amounts of wind transport, will stress all aspects with
   this new weather system.  Small triggered releases and a few natural
   point releases were observed in yesterdays field visits.  Although they
   were shallow and did not run far they indicate that more terrain and
   deeper fractures could be possible with new loading.

   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.
   Anyone who wishes to improve proficiency  with transceivers should
   check out the Beacon Training Center at The Summit of Big Mountain.  A
   control panel allows individuals to build scenario's with previously
   buried transceivers in various configurations to test your skills in
   locating them. This cooperative effort by Glacier Country Avalanche
   Center, their funding partners, the U.S. Forest Service and with
   additional help from the Big Mountain Ski Patrol has provided another
   tool for avalanche education.
   The next avalanche advisory will be on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008.