Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

as of 5:00 am

Today	0″ \| 15-25 W
Dec 23	0″ \| 15-28 W
Dec 22	0″ \| 25-52 W

Lionhead Ridge Weather

9420′ 12/24 at 11:00

20.2℉
SW - 8mph
Gusts 11 mph

Madison Plateau SNOTEL

7750′ 12/24 at 10:00

26℉
24″ Depth

Full Forecast

Primary Problem: Persistent Slab

Bottom Line: Heightened avalanche conditions exist. Human-triggered persistent slab and wind slab avalanches are possible. Obvious signs of instability, such as avalanches, collapsing, and shooting cracks, won’t be forthcoming today, but these, and unstable test results and poor snowpack structure, direct us toward slopes less than 30 degrees steep. Along with safe travel practices, good partners and rescue gear, selecting lower-angle avalanche terrain sheltered from the wind with fewer terrain traps reduces the likelihood and consequences of a slide.

Past 5 Days

Fri Dec 20

Considerable

Sat Dec 21

Moderate

Sun Dec 22

Moderate

Mon Dec 23

Moderate

Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 17

Plumes of drifting snow in the Bridgers

Plumes of drifting snow in the Bridger Range as strong winds blasted the mountains. Photo: GNFAC
Skier triggered slide at The Throne

From IG: On 12/15 "Storm slab broke about 200’ above us as skinning up the hallway coming from the north side on the throne." Photo: Anonymous
Wind Slab Southern Madison

Gusty winds transporting snow in Taylor Fork on Saturday. Triggered a 4-5 inch deep wind slab that propagated about 50 ft at the top of a north east facing slope at 9,500 ft.

Photo: JP
E facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck

WE facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck
Cabin Creek snow cover

Cabin Creek snow cover
SE facing snow Cabin Creek

SE facing snow Cabin Creek
N facing snow Cabin Creek

N facing snow Cabin Creek, 9000 ft
Large Avalanche on facets triggered by Big Sky patrol

Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered this avalanche during mitigation work in The Wave on 11/26/24... "2-3' deep on an ice crust just above the ground with a 2# shot in the Upper rodeo. Volume was limited as most of the snow was loaded just underneath the cornice, but still produced a sizeable size 2... Other paths in the Lenin region ran meaty wind slabs, full track with no significant step downs." Photo: BSSP
Big Sky cracking of snowpack

Cracking on old, faceted, October snow hundreds of feet long. North facing near treeline. Photo: BSSP
Big Sky triggered avalanche

Intentional, human-triggered avalanche by a ski patrol breaking at the ground on a north facing slope near treeline. Photo: BSSP
Ski Hill snowpack

Snowpack on Ski Hill at Lionhead. Photo: GNFAC
Snowpit at Bridger

Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
Cracking in recent hard wind slab

From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
Fresh Snow in Big Sky

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
Bridger Bowl Ridge Webcam

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627