Resort reconsiders uphill skiing policy

Whitefish Mountain Resort management is considering changing an uphill skiing policy as the result of a recent violation where two skiers disregarded the directions of ski patrollers.

On the morning of Feb. 19, prior to the resort opening, the ski patrol encountered one male and one female skier at the summit of the resort. They were advised that avalanche control work was underway in the Hellroaring Basin and in the East Rim area and they were asked to ski down the Toni Matt run, which is approved as the uphill-downhill route under the policy that provides uphill skiers access on the mountain.

The skiers were later asked by another patroller to do the same thing. 

The same two skiers were later seen descending a closed slope in the Hellroaring Basin where an explosive charge was about to be deployed for avalanche control purposes. Fortunately, patrollers were able to extinguish the explosive.

The names of the skiers are being withheld pending an investigation by resort personnel and the Flathead National Forest.

“Whitefish Mountain Resort has engaged the Flathead National Forest to discuss the current uphill policy due to this and other incidents in which skiers have disregarded the uphill policy,” as well as a special Forest Service order related to the policy, a press release from the resort states.