Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today1″ | 25-38 W
Dec 9 2″ | 5-20 W
Dec 8 5″ | 15-40 W
Lionhead Wind
9420′     12/10 at 15:00
11.4℉
W - 16mph
Gusts 24 mph
Madison Plateau SNOTEL
7750′     12/10 at 15:00
22℉
28″ Depth
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer
Bottom Line: Yesterday was the third day in a row with reports of avalanches and widespread collapsing/whumphing of the snowpack. Across our forecast area the snowpack is unstable, and a person can easily trigger a dangerous avalanche. Slopes that had snow on the ground prior to last week’s new snow are the most dangerous, especially where recent strong winds also drifted snow into thicker slabs. Now is not the time to travel on or underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Past 5 Days

Mon Dec 4

None
Thu Dec 7

Considerable
Fri Dec 8

Considerable
Sat Dec 9

Considerable
Today

Considerable

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Southern Madison
Kirkwood Ridge
Widespread Cracking and Collapsing
Incident details include images
Kirkwood Ridge
AS
Coordinates: 44.8692, -111.2390
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Skiers in the Southern Madison, Lionhead, and Northern Madison areas experienced widespread cracking and collapsing on Saturday 12/9.


More Avalanche Details

Shooting cracks in Lionhead

Shooting cracks
Widespread cracking and collapsing
Coordinates: 45.2952, -111.4100
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Cracking and collapsing reported across the advisory area in the Bridger Range, Big Sky area, near West Yellowstone and Island Park, and near Cooke City.


More Avalanche Details
Lionhead Range
Lionhead Ridge
Splitboarder triggered avalanche at lionhead
Lionhead Ridge
SS-ARu-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 9,000
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 44.7145, -111.3180
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Was splitboarding up near lions head ridge today. Made some bad decisions and kicked off a good slide in a NE facing chute. Was with 2 buddies, 1 of which skied the line 3 weeks ago.  Underneath about a foot of new powder snow there was a firm crust that seemed like it was old  hard windslab in the gut of the chute, and I think a sun crust on the riders left side(East aspect). We had 2 spots where we were planning to re group at, first was a small cubby area right before a slight rollover about 75 ft from the top. I dropped first, made some turns down toward the pulloff, as I pulled in, I triggered a good size slab that propagated maybe 40-50 ft across, at the rollover as I carved into the pulloff.  Pulled  all snow  out of the chute down to the ground. Seemed to have failed on sugary facets on ground/ice crust close to the ground... 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 5
  • Whumphs at Lionhead

    From IG: “Skied in the lions head today on a northeast slope at 8,300 feet. Clear wind loading and reactive cornices, however storm snow was low energy with little movement. 10-14 inches of medium density snow. Whumpfing was noticed on all slopes on the eastern half of the compass.” Photo: O. Desroches

  • Avalanches at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche on Mt. Blackmore, hyalite

    From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

  • Powder Blast 2023

    Get your tickets and online bid for items HERE!

Videos- Lionhead Range

WebCams


Raynolds Pass

Rendezvous Ski Trail, W. Yellowstone

Snowpit Profiles- Lionhead Range

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Lionhead Range

Big Sky

Weather Forecast Lionhead Range

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

10 Miles WNW West Yellowstone MT

Winter Weather Advisory until December 10, 05:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory
  •  Winter Weather Advisory until December 10, 05:00pm

    NOW until
    5:00pm Sun

    Winter Weather Advisory

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow. High near 19. Wind chill values as low as zero. Southwest wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 19 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow, mainly before 11pm. Low around 16. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow then
    Chance Snow

    Low: 16 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 23 °F

  • Monday
    Night

    Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Northeast wind around 6 mph.

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 11 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. North northeast wind around 6 mph.

    Mostly Sunny

    High: 23 °F

  • Tuesday
    Night

    Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Northeast wind around 7 mph.

    Mostly Clear

    Low: 6 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 23. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

    Sunny

    High: 23 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. East southeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

    Mostly Clear

    Low: 10 °F

The Last Word

Listen to GNFAC Forecaster Dave Zinn on the Hoary Marmot Podcast for some extracurricular avalanche talk (link to episode).

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