From obs 4/9/21: "...we saw widespread natural wind slabs on N-NE eastern slopes in the Northern Absarokas (photo). Winds increased throughout the morning, and evidence of wind transport became more apparent at higher elevations. We found that on aspects unaffected by wind loading, the new snow layer was not cohesive and only saw minor sluffing." Photo: E. Schreier
Regional Conditions for Lionhead Range
Past 5 Days

Low

Moderate

Low

Low

None
Avalanche Activity- Lionhead Range

SS-N-R1-D1
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.4959, -110.4490
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From obs 4/9/21: "we saw widespread natural wind slabs on N-NE eastern slopes in the Northern Absarokas (photo)...."
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Elevation: 9,000
Aspect: S
Coordinates: 45.0423, -109.9650
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Skiers had a collapse which made this crack on a south facing slope with a shallower, wet snowpack around 9,000' near Cooke City.
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WS-N-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 8,200
Coordinates: 45.6553, -110.5580
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
A wet slab was reported on 4/4/21 around 8,200' elevation in the Main Boulder drainage south of Big Timber, outside of our advisory area. It happened that day or very recently during extended above freezing temperatures.
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Photos- Lionhead Range
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Skiers had a collapse which made this crack on a south facing slope with a shallower, wet snowpack around 9,000' near Cooke City. Photo: J. Redfield
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This wet slab was reported on 4/4/21 around 8,200' elevation in the Main Boulder drainage south of Big Timber, outside of our advisory area. It happened that day or very recently during extended above freezing temperatures. Photo: G. Smith
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Extreme winds on 3/28/21 transported snow that fell over the past week into fresh wind slabs. Photo: BSSP
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From obs 3/28/21: "Saw this slope which frequently slides had been triggered on our way out last night [lower left in photo]. Slid to the ground but I expect it was mostly new snow as there is a larger old crown visible further uphill... I did see two other small pocket slides yesterday also in new snow on bed surfaces of older slides... General snowpack is getting very deep now but a thick junk layer remains at the ground everywhere I dug sleds out." Photo: J. Gerardi
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From obs: "Deep slab avalanche in Blackmore Basin that appeared to break on the depth hoar near the bottom of the snowpack. It was on a wind loaded NE facing slope at approx. 9,500 and looked to break on a slope in the 35-40 degree range. The crown was about 8'-10' deep and 200' wide. It broke to the ground and ripped out several small trees." Photo: JR Mooney
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Ian and Dave stop to do a quick stability test as they hunt for a layer of weak snow 1-2 feet under the surface. Photo: GNFAC
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From obs: "On our way up the summer trail route to Hyalite Peak our party of three remotely triggered a small avalanche from the skin track at around 9,600ft on a east facing aspect. The storm slab went about 4 inches deep and 150-200ft across a small roll over feature. We were about 150ft away when we triggered the slide." Photo: C. Kussmaul
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The snowpack in the Centennials is remarkably similar to the Lionhead area outside West Yellowstone: 6 feet of snow at 9,200 feet. The stability will get worse with snow this weekend (19-21 March) because the surface snow is week and the new snow will not bond to it (near-surface facets). Photo: GNFAC
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Cornices along Lionhead Ridge. 3/16/2021
Photo: GNFAC
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Seen from near Ennis on 3/4/21. On Finger Mountain in the southern Madison Range. Photo: D. Frohman
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We saw these recent wet loose avalanches on 3/6/21. SW aspect, 9,100'. They likely ran during above freezing temperatures between 3/3 and 3/5. Photo: GNFAC
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From obs: "Small D1 avalanche on south-eastern aspect around 7800ft. Looks like solar released on older layer a day or two ago."
Photo: M. Mailly
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From obs: "While touring above the canyon this morning, I noticed a very recent wet slide (would guess this incident occurred yesterday afternoon, March 4th). This was a skier triggered slide on a E aspect at an elevation of 7200. This slide was roughly 50 feet wide and ran about 50 feet, I estimated this crown to be 2-3 feet deep, slid all the way to the ground. This occurred below a steep roller."
Photo: T. Saulnier
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Wet loose avalanches released in the warm sunshine on Tuesday, March 2nd. We expect many more in the coming days. Photo: S. Jonas
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Sled Skiing in Third Yellow mule... after an air onto the slope the impact from landing resulted in a fracture and failure to / near the ground... in addition, a remote trigger occurred on adjacent slope... 200-300 ft to the skiers right. No body was caught in either slide. Skier that initiated failure was moving at high speed and was beyond slide path before majority of snow movement began. Photo: W. Miller
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Sled Skiing in Third Yellow mule... after an air onto the slope the impact from landing resulted in a fracture and failure to / near the ground... in addition, a remote trigger occurred on adjacent slope... 200-300 ft to the skiers right. No body was caught in either slide. Skier that initiated failure was moving at high speed and was beyond slide path before majority of snow movement began. Photo: W. Miller
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Sled Skiing in Third Yellow mule... after an air onto the slope the impact from landing resulted in a fracture and failure to / near the ground... in addition, a remote trigger occurred on adjacent slope... 200-300 ft to the skiers right. No body was caught in either slide. Photo: W. Miller
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This avalanche was triggered on Sunday, 2/28, when a skier released another slide 2-300 feet away. It broke at the same time. No one was caught. This was in the Third Yellow Mule on Buck Ridge. Photo: W. Miller
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Riders triggered this slide on 2/28/21 near Red Canyon/Cabin Creek, north of West Yellowstone. Nobody caught or injured, but close call.
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Riders triggered this slide on 2/28/21 near Red Canyon/Cabin Creek, north of West Yellowstone. Nobody caught or injured, but close call.
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Riders triggered this slide on 2/28/21 near Red Canyon/Cabin Creek, north of West Yellowstone. Nobody caught or injured, but close call.
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Riders triggered this slide on 2/28/21 near Red Canyon/Cabin Creek, north of West Yellowstone. Nobody caught or injured, but close call.
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There was 6' of snow off the ridge in the Bridger Range on an east facing slope. The top 2 feet were recent wind drifting that broke clean in our stability test which indicated unstable conditions (ECTP18). We expect similar conditions and instability with wind-loaded slops throughout our forecast area. Photo: GNFAC
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In the last 24 hours (2/28) 12" of low density powder and 40-50 mph west wind made it easy to trigger wind-drifted snow. Alex kicked these drifts which cracked and moved. We expect similar conditions and instability with wind-loaded slops throughout our forecast area. Photo: GNFAC
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This natural avalanche occurred on a slope that was wind drifted with cross-slope winds. It was a NE facing slope at 9,000 feet and likely ran over the weekend (2/20). Photo: GNFAC
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This natural avalanche was likely triggered by a falling cornince in the last day or two. The slope is in the Wilderness and was seen from the boundary. Wind drifted snow is a concern in this area. Photo: GNFAC
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On 2/13/21 riders reported they triggered this avalanche, and remotely triggered two other slides. Nobody was injured. One partially buried.
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On 2/13/21 riders reported they triggered this avalanche, and remotely triggered two other slides. Nobody was injured. One partially buried.
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Snowmobile triggered slide on Lionhead Ridge in Upper Watkins drainage on 2/11/2021.
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Natural avalanche on Lionhead Ridge in upper Watkins Creek. Likely broke on Sunday 2/7.
Photo: GNFAC (2/10/2021)
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Sledders triggered this slide on 2/6/21 in West Targhee Creek near Lionhead. No one was caught.
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A snowmobiler triggered this avalanche on Monday (2/1/2021) at Lionhead. No one was caught. Photo: Anonymous
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A snowmobiler triggered this avalanche on Monday (2/1/2021) at Lionhead. No one was caught. Photo: Anonymous
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This small avalanche was below the corner of Lionhead peak. It was one of the smaller slides during the avalanche cycle that occurred 1/29 and 1/30. Photo: GNFAC
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The avalanche broke in the new snow, but stepped down into deeper layers (sugary facets) mid-path. This can occur when there are multiple weak layers in the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC
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Every path along the shoulder of Targhee Peak (Lionhead area) avalanched naturally during the storm 1/29 and 1/30. Photo: GNFAC
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This steep north facing slope avalanched about 3 weeks ago on depth hoar when a snowmobiler triggered it. It got reloaded with new snow and wind drifts and avalanched a second time! Photo: GNFAC
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This natural avalanche occured on a NE facing slope at 8600". It was 2' deep, 500' wide and 250' vertical. The avalanche broke on a thin layer of facets during the storm. SS-N-R3-D2-O. Photo: GNFAC
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On the north end of Lionhead Ridge is Airplane Bowl. The crown line extends across the entire bowl on the right with a separate avalanche on the left. Photo: GNFAC
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Weather Forecast Lionhead Range
10 Miles WNW West Yellowstone MT
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Today
Mostly Sunny
High: 25 °F
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Tonight
Partly Cloudy
Low: 11 °F
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Tuesday
Mostly Sunny
High: 27 °F
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Tuesday
NightPartly Cloudy
Low: 13 °F
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Wednesday
Snow Likely
High: 29 °F
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Wednesday
NightChance Snow
Low: 18 °F
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Thursday
Chance Snow
High: 30 °F
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Thursday
NightChance Snow
Low: 19 °F
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Friday
Chance Snow
High: 33 °F
The Last Word

Snow will be around the mountains for a month or two and avalanches will continue. When warm temperatures return, wet snow hazards will increase. If there are big spring snowstorms, dangerous conditions may develop for new snow avalanches and wind slabs. With either extended warming or a big storm, there is still a lingering possibility of deep avalanches breaking on weak, sugary snow near the ground. See this article for some general spring travel advice.