Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

This wet loose avalanche is a great example of where they often occur. Rocks absorb extra heat from the sun and can quickly melt and destabilize the snow. Either move under areas like this early in the morning (as we did), or if you have to travel under them later in the day, move quickly.

Understanding Avalanche Safety Preparedness – 5-Minute Survey for Motorized Users

We need your input! Eastern Oregon University is conducting a survey to better understand avalanche safety preparedness among motorized backcountry users like you. Your feedback will help us learn more about who is purchasing and practicing with avalanche rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and participating in avalanche education—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

Your feedback is invaluable in improving avalanche education and awareness. Please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.

https://eoustmhs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L8QKAuZzcxJBLo

Thank you for your time and for being a part of this important effort!

Large chunks of debris from a natural avalanche in Targhee Creek. Photo: GNFAC

We saw many crowns of wind slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge. Photo: GNFAC

Cornice collapse and small avalanche at the start of Lionhead Ridge. Photo: GNFAC

Mar 9. We rode out Lionhead Ridge... there were two or three shallow small wind slabs below Lionhead Ridge. Photo: GNFAC

Mar 9. We rode out Lionhead Ridge... there were two or three shallow small wind slabs below Lionhead Ridge. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "Looks like a recent naturally triggered slide towards the Idaho wilderness boundary on lionhead."

Photo: M. Klahr

Airplane bowl this afternoon after a rider triggered slide. There is a down track in the middle of the crown face

Airplane bowl this morning, no avalanche

A rider triggered a huge avalanche in the uppermost reaches of Targhee creek on a north facing slope at 9200'

A rider triggered a huge avalanche in the uppermost reaches of Targhee creek on a north facing slope at 9200'

A rider triggered a huge avalanche in the uppermost reaches of Targhee creek on a north facing slope at 9200'

At Lionhead a weak layer generally 2-3 feet deep is obvious in this snowpit wall.

Remotely triggered the avalanche from 150 feet away. It broke 200' wide and 1-3 feet deep. It ran an estimated 200' vertical feet 

Remotely triggered the avalanche from 150 feet away. It broke 200' wide and 1-3 feet deep. It ran an estimated 200' vertical feet 

From FB message: "Small slide in lower elevation back by lionshead"

From obs: "We saw this today after it happened. Looked like a snowmobile triggered it. I believe it is mostly south facing." Photo: D. Haluptzok 

We saw two recent shallow wind slab avalanches. No recent slides breaking deeper. 
This one at NE 9000'

Plenty of wind slabs ranging in size on Lionhead ridge and on surrounding slopes. Photo: Riley

Plenty of wind slabs ranging in size on Lionhead ridge and on surrounding slopes. Photo: Riley

Plenty of wind slabs ranging in size on Lionhead ridge and on surrounding slopes. Photo: Riley

1 meter deep snowpack showing the obvious facets in the bottom third

We dug a pit on an East facing aspect below the slope we had planned to ride. The height of snow was about 110 cm and there was a very concerning layer of large facets at 75cm deep going to the ground.  Photo: C Culver

Our results were CT17 SPQ2 and ECTP26 SCQ1. Bother failures during tests were on the layer of facets and on the CT and ECT our columns easily separated from the facet layer after failure. Photo: C Culver 

On Jan 12, we saw 4-5 avalanche crowns that were up to a week old, some had been reported and a few we had not heard of. Two were ~2' deep on less wind affected slopes lower down in the trees, but probably had some previous wind-loading. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 12, we saw 4-5 avalanche crowns that were up to a week old, some had been reported and a few we had not heard of. Two were ~2' deep on less wind affected slopes lower down in the trees, but probably had some previous wind-loading. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 12 We saw 4-5 avalanche crowns that were up to a week old, some had been reported and a few we had not heard of. The pictured one was a 3-4'+thick slab on a rocky heavily wind-loaded slope off Lionhead ridge. Photo: GNFAC

From IG Jan4, Photo: J. Urell

From IG Message Jan 4."They happened today because I did not see the debris on way in". Photo: T. Urell

Remote triggered this avalanche at Lionhead. We were snowmobiling to the left of where the avalanche occurred. No one was caught.

Coordinates: 44°43'36.8"N 111°19'05.0"W

Photo: Ben 

Settling and collapsing on E-NE slopes above Hebgen. Full slope collapses and cracks, approximately 28 degree slope pictured.

Photo: C Koch

While touring up a low-angle ridge in the northern Lionhead, I experienced several large collapses, notably one that triggered a cornice fall from 50’ away. Another remote collapse caused about 500’ of an E facing bowl to propagate, but not slide. ~9200’ E-SE 

Photo: N Sramek

While touring up a low-angle ridge in the northern Lionhead, I experienced several large collapses, notably one that triggered a cornice fall from 50’ away. Another remote collapse caused about 500’ of an E facing bowl to propagate, but not slide. ~9200’ E-SE

Photo: N Sramek

There was a natural avalanche on the landslide face above quake lake. The avalanche failed on a weak layers near the ground and broke several hundred feet wide. 

From obs on 12/29: "On our way out near the cabin I cut a line close to a creek to see if I could trigger something."

From obs on 12/29: "On our way out near the cabin I cut a line close to a creek to see if I could trigger something."

Occurred during the day on 12/28 Photo: GNFAC