Two missing in avalanche

The search for two people buried in an avalanche near Red Meadow Lake will begin anew this morning.

What Flathead County Undersheriff Mike Meehan called a "massive avalanche" trapped three people on snowmobiles at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

One man got out and rode his snowmobile to the Polebridge side, where he notified authorities. By that time, approximately an hour had passed and little daylight remained.

At around 6 p.m., the Flathead Search and Rescue and Nordic Ski Patrol search had to be canceled for the night.

"It was just because of the extreme avalanche danger," Meehan said.

"It was just too dangerous to go up in here tonight, so we're going to be back at first light."

At this point the pair, a man and a woman, are considered missing.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.