Lionhead Range

From email: "We noticed 2 natural avalanches on the east-facing slopes below Bald Peak. I lost count, but we experienced well over 30+ collapses while walking on the ridgeline. Many of these collapses were very large and we were able to watch the slopes 'sink' by upwards of an inch which made our hair stand on end." 12/13 Photo: R. Parsons

 

Avalanche Details: Avalanche Debris on Bald PeakNaturals avalanches in Lionhead
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Dec 16, 2023
Lionhead Range, 2023-12-14
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    • Surface Hoar and Instability in Lionhead

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    From email: 12/13: "Many slopes had half-inch to inch-sized surface hoar crystals on the surface, some of the largest I've ever seen! 

    Wind was light out of the north on the ridgeline. We noticed 2 natural avalanches on the east-facing slopes below Bald Peak. I lost count, but we experienced well over 30+ collapses while walking on the ridgeline. Many of these collapses were very large and we were able to watch the slopes 'sink' by upwards of an inch which made our hair stand on end.

    We dug a pit near the saddle below Lionhead Peak at 9300' on an east-facing slope (HS ~85cm). We performed an ECT and our results indicated poor stability (ECTP 14 @ 50cm)." 

    Region
    Lionhead Range
    Location (from list)
    Lionhead Ridge
    Observer Name
    Robby Parsons

    Collapses at Lionhead

    Ski Hill
    Lionhead Range
    Code
    Latitude
    44.70160
    Longitude
    -111.29300
    Notes

    Spent the day up near ski hill with West Yellowstone Avalanche Fundamentals course. 

    Our group observed a large collapse below ski hill.

    We dug various pits @ 8000' below ski hill and found HS 85-55cm on NW-NE aspects.

    The snowpack structure there had weak snow at the ground capped by a stout ice crust with faceted snow over the crust beneath the recent snow.

    We recorded ECTP4, ECTP11, ECT20 & a few more propagating results on facets above the crust. 

    There was widespread intact surface hoar. 

     

     

     

    Number of slides
    0
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Images
    Collapses and unstable ECT results Lionhead
    Surface Hoar, Lionhead
    Snow Observation Source
    Collapses and unstable ECT results Lionhead
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Red Flag
    Advisory Year
    23-24

    Spent the day up near ski hill with West Yellowstone Avalanche Fundamentals course.

    We dug various pits @ 8000' below ski hill and found HS 85-55cm on NW-NE aspects.

    The snowpack structure there had weak snow at the ground capped by a stout ice crust with faceted snow over the crust beneath the recent snow.

    We recorded ECTP4, ECTP11, ECT20 & a few more propagating results on facets above the crust.

    Photo: S. Regan

     

     

     

    Avalanche Details: Collapses at Lionhead
    Lionhead Range, 2023-12-12
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    • Collapses and unstable ECT results Lionhead

    Date
    Activity
    Snowmobiling

    Spent the day up near ski hill with West Yellowstone Avalanche Fundamentals course. 

    Our group observed a large collapse below ski hill.

    We dug various pits @ 8000' below ski hill and found HS 85-55cm on NW-NE aspects.

    The snowpack structure there had weak snow at the ground capped by a stout ice crust with faceted snow over the crust beneath the recent snow.

    We recorded ECTP4, ECTP11, ECT20 & a few more propagating results on facets above the crust. 

    There was widespread intact surface hoar. 

     

     

     

    Region
    Lionhead Range
    Location (from list)
    Ski Hill
    Observer Name
    S Regan
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