Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 10-15 W
Mar 30 3″ | 10-15 SE
Mar 29 1″ | 10-25 S
9420′     03/31 at 11:00
18.2℉
SW - 12mph
Gusts 20 mph
7750′     03/31 at 11:00
29℉
92″ Depth
Bottom Line: Avalanches in the upper snowpack can be triggered beneath the snow that fell over the last week, particularly where it’s been more recently drifted by the wind. A harder to identify, but scarier possibility is triggering a deep slab avalanche.You’d have to get unlucky to trigger one of these slides today, but if you do, the consequences could be huge. Avalanches in the newer snow could also step down and trigger a deeper slide.
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer

Past 5 Days

Mon Mar 27

Considerable
Tue Mar 28

Moderate
Wed Mar 29

Moderate
Thu Mar 30

Moderate
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Lionhead Range
Lionhead Ridge
Natural on Lionhead Ridge
Incident details include images
Lionhead Ridge
HS-N-R3-D2.5-O
Elevation: 8,900
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 44.7118, -111.3130
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Natural avalanche on Lionhead Ridge estimated date 2/21/23. 

From obs: "Bowl after the climb up Denny Creek. The runout area is the first big downhill on the trail that follows the bottom of the ridge. Best guess is 24-48 hours old. Extremely deep runout."


More Avalanche Details
Lionhead Range
LIONHEAD AREA
Extensive Avalanche Cycle in LH
Incident details include images
Incident details contain video
LIONHEAD AREA
Coordinates: 44.7292, -111.3230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Riding around Lionhead and into the back bowls revealed an extensive avalanche cycle that occurred with the Avalanche Warning 2 days ago. Some slides were hard to see since they were buried in snow while others were more fresh. Crown lines near the ridges, debris piles at the bottom of slopes, and debris pushed high onto trees were evidence of the recent activity. Many slopes avalanched; more than we've ever seen in this area.

We dug in 1 crown and measured 11" of SWE above the weak layer (1mm facets) that avalanched. Every weak layer has a breaking point, and this layer needed about 11 feet of snowfall to get it to avalanche.


More Avalanche Details
Lionhead Range
LIONHEAD AREA
Many Natural Avalanches Lionhead Area
Incident details include images
LIONHEAD AREA
N-R4-D3
Coordinates: 44.7292, -111.3230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. They likely failed between Thursday night and Saturday (3/9-3/11).


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Bowl after the climb up Denny Creek. The runout area is the first big downhill on the trail that follows the bottom of the ridge. Best guess is 24-48 hours old. Extremely deep runout. 3/23/23 Photo: B. Ramage

  • We dug in 1 crown and measured 11" of SWE above the weak layer (1mm facets) that avalanched. Every weak layer has a breaking point, and this layer needed about 11 feet of snowfall to get it to avalanche.

     

     

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • Riders observed many natural avalanches at Lionhead. Photo: A Steckmest

  • From IG message: "3 different slides lionhead area. One was very big the run out was 20 feet tall and quarter mile long" Photo: T. Urell

  • From IG message: "3 different slides lionhead area. One was very big the run out was 20 feet tall and quarter mile long" Photo: T. Urell

  • We saw 6 natural avalanches on our ride in Lionhead. They all involved snow in the last week or two. On our exit we ran into who a group that witnessed a sledder triggering this slope. It was about 3 feet deep and was clearly wind loaded. Luckily he was not caught. When folks are triggering slides we know other slopes are also unstable. Be careful out there!

  • We saw 6 natural avalanches on our ride in Lionhead. They all involved snow in the last week or two. On our exit we ran into who a group that witnessed a sledder triggering this slope. It was about 3 feet deep and was clearly wind loaded. Luckily he was not caught. When folks are triggering slides we know other slopes are also unstable. Be careful out there!

  • We saw 6 natural avalanches on our ride in Lionhead. They all involved snow in the last week or two. On our exit we ran into who a group that witnessed a sledder triggering this slope. It was about 3 feet deep and was clearly wind loaded. Luckily he was not caught. When folks are triggering slides we know other slopes are also unstable. Be careful out there!

  • We saw 6 natural avalanches on our ride in Lionhead. They all involved snow in the last week or two. On our exit we ran into who a group that witnessed a sledder triggering this slope. It was about 3 feet deep and was clearly wind loaded. Luckily he was not caught. When folks are triggering slides we know other slopes are also unstable. Be careful out there!

  • We saw 6 natural avalanches on our ride in Lionhead. They all involved snow in the last week or two. On our exit we ran into who a group that witnessed a sledder triggering this slope. It was about 3 feet deep and was clearly wind loaded. Luckily he was not caught. When folks are triggering slides we know other slopes are also unstable. Be careful out there!

  • On Buck Ridge today (3/5/23) we found fresh, unstable drifts. This fresh slab was 4-6" deep. Cracking like this is a sign that wind slabs will avalanche on steeper slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skier triggered deep slab avalanche on NE face of Hyalite Peak 3/4/23.

  • A rider observed recent avalanches on wind-loaded slopes near Lionhead on 2/25/23. Photo: K. Allred

  • "Seemed to be a decent sized slide runoff was pretty deep where it stopped in the trees figured it was probably two days old. Southwest facing. Roughly 44.86695° N, 111.24123° W"

  • Dave Zinn measures snow water equivalent to see how much weight was added to the snowpack from the recent storm in Island Park. Photo: GNFAC

  • We rode down a narrow gully to get into the head of Yale Creek in Island Park. We descended one at a time, just in case our assessment was wrong. There was older debris in the gully. Photo: GNFAC

  • As we rode into Lionhead we saw many slides that either ran naturally or from cornice falls. Most of the slides happened Fri or Sat. Winds are blowing strong at all aspects and elevations. Slopes are being loaded further and we triggered a small slide (video) from 50 feet away (aka remotely triggered). This is a serious sign of instability and we were careful to not get on or underneath avalanche terrain.

  • As we rode into Lionhead we saw many slides that either ran naturally or from cornice falls. Most of the slides happened Fri or Sat. Winds are blowing strong at all aspects and elevations. Slopes are being loaded further and we triggered a small slide (video) from 50 feet away (aka remotely triggered). This is a serious sign of instability and we were careful to not get on or underneath avalanche terrain.

  • As we rode into Lionhead we saw many slides that either ran naturally or from cornice falls. Most of the slides happened Fri or Sat. Winds are blowing strong at all aspects and elevations. Slopes are being loaded further and we triggered a small slide (video) from 50 feet away (aka remotely triggered). This is a serious sign of instability and we were careful to not get on or underneath avalanche terrain.

  • Observed two recent natural avalanches on 1/25/23 that broke 1-2 feet deep, presumably on a surface hoar layer. There was a couple of inches of snow on each of these slides, so I would place them between three and five days old. The slides were R1-D1.5 in size - 75-100' wide, 1-2' deep, and 100' vertical fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Observed two recent natural avalanches on 1/25/23 that broke 1-2 feet deep, presumably on a surface hoar layer. There was a couple of inches of snow on each of these slides, so I would place them between three and five days old. The slides were R1-D1.5 in size - 75-100' wide, 1-2' deep, and 100' vertical fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Surface hoar can often be seen as a grey stripe on the wall of your snowpit as was the case at Bacon Rind in the Southern Madison Range on 1/23. Photo: GNFAC

  • A natural slide in the back bowls of Lionhead.

  • Dave and Doug rode around and saw multiple natural and 1 sledder triggered slide on Lionhead. Some were thin and just involved news snow and others were deeper and broke on the buried surface hoar layer.

  • Dave and Doug rode around and saw multiple natural and 1 sledder triggered slide on Lionhead. Some were thin and just involved news snow and others were deeper and broke on the buried surface hoar layer.

  • Small avalanche broke while descending to less exposed areas.  Approximately 80 yards wide, 18” deep.  Slid for approximately 90 yards from crown. 
     

  • Small avalanche broke while descending to less exposed areas.  Approximately 80 yards wide, 18” deep.  Slid for approximately 90 yards from crown. 

Videos- Lionhead Range

WebCams


Rendezvous Ski Trail, W. Yellowstone

Snowpit Profiles- Lionhead Range

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Lionhead Range

Extended Forecast for

10 Miles WNW West Yellowstone MT

Winter Weather Advisory April 1, 06:00am until April 2, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory
  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow likely, mainly after 3pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. Southwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow Likely

    High: 24 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow likely, mainly after 5am.  Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow Likely
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    Low: 18 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow.  Areas of blowing snow before 7am, then widespread blowing snow after 10am. High near 22. Windy, with a south southwest wind 18 to 23 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Blowing Snow

    High: 22 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: Snow.  Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 1am. Low around 13. Wind chill values as low as -5. Windy, with a south southwest wind 27 to 32 mph decreasing to 17 to 22 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Blowing Snow

    Low: 13 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow.  Patchy blowing snow between 7am and 1pm. High near 19. Windy, with a west southwest wind 17 to 22 mph increasing to 26 to 31 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    High: 19 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: Snow, mainly before 1am.  Low around 8. Breezy, with a southwest wind 19 to 29 mph decreasing to 6 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow and
    Breezy

    Low: 8 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: Snow likely, mainly after 1pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    then Snow
    Likely

    High: 22 °F

  • Monday
    Night

    Monday Night: Snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. North wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    Snow

    Low: 11 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17.

    Snow

    High: 17 °F

The Last Word

Avalanches have killed 23 people in the United States so far this season. On Monday, March 27th, a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche in Utah. This was the tenth fatality in March. 


More info on each event is available at the Avalanche.org Accidents Page.

 

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