Avalanche kills 2 skiers in Montana

updated 11:53 a.m. ET Jan. 14, 2008

WHITEFISH, Mont. - Rescuers searched Monday through the remnants of a deadly avalanche, unsure whether more backcountry skiers were caught up in the slide in northwestern Montana.

Sunday’s avalanche tore down trees and left snow 20 to 25 feet deep. Two skiers were killed, and rescuers pursued reports that two others might have been caught.

But by midday Monday, no one had been reported missing.

“So far we haven’t found anything,” Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said. “We are waiting to hear of anyone else missing, or exactly what we’ve got.”

Dangerous conditions delayed the start of Monday’s search on Fiberglass Hill, a popular area on the other side of the mountain from Whitefish Mountain Resort. Authorities had to blast away an “unsafe snow mass” near the avalanche site, Meehan said.

Once the search resumed, about 100 rescuers used poles to probe the snow in an effort to find any victims. Search dogs and a helicopter also assisted in the search, which was expected to last into the evening, depending on the weather.

The forecast called for high winds and snow after midnight.

The victims were identified Monday as Anthony Kollman, 19, of Kalispell, and David Gogolak, 36, of Whitefish.

Along with Kollman and Gogolak, witnesses were adamant they saw two other people caught up in the slide, Meehan said. As part of their search, deputies were checking cars parked overnight in the ski area to see whether anyone was unaccounted for, Meehan said.

The area where the avalanche occurred is U.S. Forest Service land, outside resort boundaries, said Donnie Clap, spokesman for Whitefish Mountain Resort.

“We set off explosions to mitigate the (avalanche) risk within our boundaries,” he said. “When you ski out of bounds, you are really taking your life in your own hands.”

“We’re just distraught over this tragedy,” he said. “It’s been really hard on all of us.”

In Wyoming, three men from that state, identified as Scott Bennett, Alan Jensen and Kim Steed, were killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling Saturday south of Jackson.

Avalanches have killed at least 21 people across the West since Dec. 2, according to the National Avalanche Center. The national annual average for avalanche deaths is about 25. Thirty-five people were killed nationwide in avalanches in the 2001-2002 season, the most on record, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

More from msnbc.com Remembering Cronkite — our favorite uncle   Images: Faces from the county fair The recession is slowing in these 23 cities Which leader has wandering eye? Take our quiz Cosmic Log: Next giant leap reconsidered

MORE FROM WEATHER

Weather Section Front

Watch 3-day national forecast Weather shift claims 10 climbers' lives Hurricane preparations factor in recession 'Ike Dike' proposed along Texas coast   Extreme heat takes toll on Texas Wyoming tornado destroys homes, barns Weather Section Front   Add Weather headlines to your news reader: