There is a level 2 or Moderate danger mainly at upper elevations in the backcountry. Heightened avalanche conditions exist and you might trigger wind slab avalanches on some drifted slopes where the somewhat unusual easterly winds Thursday and again this morning deposited fresh and stiff wind slabs on weak and sugary preexisting surface snow. Heightened avalanche conditions also remain on a few steep northerly facing slopes at the highest elevations where you might trigger very dangerous persistent slab avalanches failing on weak basal snow near the ground. Avoid drifted rocky areas with generally shallower snow cover. There is a level 1 or Low danger on most other slopes in the backcountry today. You should continue to evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially in drifted upper elevation terrain....

You'll find a couple inches of fresh light snow in the backcountry, which will freshen up the crusty and wind hammered snow surface a bit. Look for the softer, less wind-wrecked snow in sheltered terrain today... Expect to find significant scoured-off areas near exposed ridges, with hard wind deposited snow on the lee (normally windward) sides...It's still a bit boney for backcountry riding, but at least you can see most of the obstacles sticking out through the mostly supportable but seasonally shallow snow.

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4 new inches of light snow since yesterday, containing 2/10ths of an inch of water. It's 13 degrees this morning, and there is 33 inches of total snow on the ground.. It's a chilly 4 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and easterly winds picked up again overnight, with 30 + mph averages and a gust of 52 mph from the east-northeast early this morning.

We could see signs of a few shallow natural avalanches from the 12-1-2011 wind storm on upper elevation slopes, but the strong east winds had scoured most of the evidence away....

Easterly, down slope winds continue to develop this morning, but they should diminish by around noon today... Cold temperatures will continue, with 8000' high temperatures forecast to be in the teens today and in the low single digits overnight.... A weak system will bring more light snow to our area tomorrow and tomorrow night, but other than a couple inches of accumulation the main effect will be to bring more arctic air into the region.. Despite a few more chances for a little snow in the coming week, nothing significant snow-wise appears likely in the foreseeable future.....

Thanks to all who attended, donated, and helped to put on our annual fundraiser party Wednesday night. It was a big success thanks to you!

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I will update this advisory by around 7:30 in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.....

This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.