Two Young Skiers Rescued

Two young skiers from Tacoma were rescued after they skied out-of-bounds at The Big Mountain ski area.

Rescuers guessed the two - Katelin Nearly, 11, and Nick Gilchrist, 14 - were lured by the powdery slopes in the West Bowl.

“The kids were last seen by their parents about 11 a.m. (Sunday),” said Flathead Search and Rescue dispatcher Shirley Stubbs.

Rescuers made voice contact with the children at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday near the head of Whitefish Lake. The children were brought out on snowmobiles and returned to their parents shortly after midnight.

“They took them to our command post, where there was a bonfire waiting,” said Stubbs. “The kids received a medical check, and our people gave them hot liquids and dry clothes.”

Rescuers said the two were in good physical shape.