Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

as of 5:00 am
Apr 300″ | NA
Apr 29 0″ | NA
Apr 28 2″ | NA
9420′     04/03 at 15:00
32.0℉
N - 0mph
Gusts 0 mph
7750′     06/08 at 07:00
48℉
Depth
Bottom Line: Spring weather can be highly variable and create a mix of avalanche problems to watch out for. Snow conditions and snow stability can change drastically from day to day or hour to hour. Anticipate rapid change and plan accordingly. Plenty of snowfall over the winter with more spring snow to come makes avalanches possible into summer.

Past 5 Days

Mon Apr 17

None
Thu Apr 20

None
Mon Apr 24

None
Fri Apr 28

None
Tue May 2

None

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • From email: “These pics are from last June 10-11, after the pass reopened on Friday. I was skiing the Gardner headwall at 5:30, solo, when this monster released. Yah. The initial cornice collapse triggered and entrained a secondary slab of varying thickness whose crown is seen in one of the photos.”

  • From obs 5/7/23: "Natural R3-4, D4 ripped out a large chunk of the south face of Wilson during the last warm period I would assume. Debris everywhere and one large boat-sized pile even scoured a path further down than the rest of the debris. Looked to be a mix of wet loose and wet slab release from high up. Alpha angle at the bottom of the debris was 25 degrees" Photo: C. Ellingson

  • Give Big Gallatin Valley is May 4-5. The Friends of the Avalanche Center are participating again this year and thank you for your support. Between 6pm on May 4 through 6pm on May 5 you can support your favorite local non-profits. Donate Here.

  • From obs. 4/7/23: "I went through the area of Three Rivers Peak yesterday, and there had been a pretty nice cycle of large slides recently. One on the east face of Three Rivers broke 6-800’ wide 2-10’+ deep, and ran full track. It only had a couple inches of snow on it, so I think it ran sometime during the recent warm days. Some of the walls along the slide were over 20’ high, and I imagine the debris pile might make it through the summer. I also observed a couple older slides on E\NE aspects that were older, but not a whole lot smaller." Photo: S. Reinsel

  • From obs. 4/7/23: "I went through the area of Three Rivers Peak yesterday, and there had been a pretty nice cycle of large slides recently. One on the east face of Three Rivers broke 6-800’ wide 2-10’+ deep, and ran full track. It only had a couple inches of snow on it, so I think it ran sometime during the recent warm days. Some of the walls along the slide were over 20’ high, and I imagine the debris pile might make it through the summer. I also observed a couple older slides on E\NE aspects that were older, but not a whole lot smaller." Photo: S. Reinsel

  • From obs. 4/7/23: "I went through the area of Three Rivers Peak yesterday, and there had been a pretty nice cycle of large slides recently. One on the east face of Three Rivers broke 6-800’ wide 2-10’+ deep, and ran full track. It only had a couple inches of snow on it, so I think it ran sometime during the recent warm days. Some of the walls along the slide were over 20’ high, and I imagine the debris pile might make it through the summer. I also observed a couple older slides on E\NE aspects that were older, but not a whole lot smaller." Photo: S. Reinsel

  • There was a large natural avalanche that broke yesterday on Bald Peak it was bounded laterally by the terrain, so it only broke a couple of hundred feet across, but it appeared to be 4-6' deep and ran the full available vertical into the creek below. This avalanche was the key piece of information for the day and answered the question of whether or not the snowpack is continuing to produce deep slab avalanches with every storm, it is. Photo: GNFAC

  • There was a large natural avalanche that broke yesterday on Bald Peak it was bounded laterally by the terrain, so it only broke a few hundred feet across, but it appeared to be 4-6' deep and ran the full available vertical into the creek below. This avalanche was the key piece of information for the day and answered the question of whether or not the snowpack is continuing to produce deep slab avalanches with every storm, it is. Photo: GNFAC

  • There was a large natural avalanche that broke yesterday on Bald Peak it was bounded laterally by the terrain, so it only broke a couple of hundred feet across, but it appeared to be 4-6' deep and ran the full available vertical into the creek below. This avalanche was the key piece of information for the day and answered the question of whether or not the snowpack is continuing to produce deep slab avalanches with every storm, it is. Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw three more avalanches that broke at least a few feet deep and several storm slab avalanches that failed within the new and wind-drifted snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw three more avalanches that broke at least a few feet deep and several storm slab avalanches that failed within the new and wind-drifted snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • 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

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

Flood Watch June 8, 12:00pm until June 9, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Flood Watch
  • Today

    Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm.  High near 59. East northeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

    Showers
    Likely then
    T-storms

    High: 59 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm.  Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 50%.

    Scattered
    T-storms then
    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 41 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon.  Sunny through mid morning, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%.

    Sunny then
    Showers
    Likely

    High: 58 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable  after midnight.

    Chance
    T-storms then
    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 42 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation is 60%.

    Mostly Sunny
    then Showers
    Likely

    High: 58 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northeast in the evening.

    Chance
    T-storms then
    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 43 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon.  High near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation is 80%.

    Slight Chance
    Showers then
    Showers

    High: 59 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph.

    Chance
    T-storms then
    Slight Chance
    Showers

    Low: 42 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.

    Showers

    High: 57 °F

The Last Word

Thank you to everyone that sent in observations, read the advisories, took an avalanche class or donated money, time or gear. Our success is directly related to community support and the Forest Service. Have a safe spring and summer!

 

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