Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

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.