Ski resort plans backcountry warning signs on Flower Point

Flower Point has long served as a hike-to entry point for backcountry skiers searching for fresh powder in the Canyon Creek area near Big Mountain. The out-of-bounds skiing was a 20 minute boot pack from Whitefish Mountain Resort’s patrolled boundary.

The new Flower Point lift changes the game.

Next winter, thousands of skiers a day will be effortlessly shuttled to the summit of Flower Point, with only a thin boundary rope separating them from the joys — and dangers — of backcountry skiing in the canyon.

Whitefish Mountain Resort spokeswoman Riley Polumbus says resort officials have decided to keep an open boundary policy for the area.

“We’re not changing that,” she said. “But if you do go out, you’re on your own.”

She notes that Canyon Creek is terrain trap with a line of steep chutes off the opposite facing Skookoleel ridge that regularly shed avalanches.

In 2008, two local backcountry skiers died when a large avalanche swept over them in Canyon Creek. David Gogolak, 36, of Whitefish, was hit by the avalanche as he was hiking out. Anthony Kollmann, 19, of Kalispell, was caught in the slide on terrain below Skookoleel Mountain. Both died at the scene.

A small memorial was later placed on a tree at the top of Flower Point honoring Gogolak.

That memorial was removed for the construction of the new chair lift. The Gogolak family was made aware of the construction project, Polumbus said, and the memorial items were returned to the family.

While personal memorials are not allowed on Forest Service land, the resort and the Gogolak family are planning to install signs on Flower Point warning of avalanche danger in the canyon.

“They want to do something to educate people,” Polumbus said. “They would like to do something factual that explains what happened.”

“It might be something that would deter someone from ducking the rope.”

Polumbus said the Forest Service is in favor of some type of signage, as well.