There's nothing quite like skiing through the trees at Whitefish Mountain Resort. From many of our groomed trails, you can pop into the forest and take an adventurous detour through a maze of snow-covered evergreens. For many skiers and snowboarders, it's one of the most fun and appealing aspects of snow sports.

But do you know about the hidden dangers lurking in the forest? Let's talk about tree wells.

Tree wells are voids or depressions that form around the bases of trees. They can contain a mix of low-hanging branches, loose snow and air. Evergreen trees in particular can have large, deep tree wells that form when low-hanging branches block snow from filling in and consolidating around the base of the tree. Those same branches can also hide the tree well from view.

Falling into a tree well, especially head first, can be deadly. It's extremely difficult to get out a tree well if you become trapped, and suffocation is possible without a partner to rescue you.

The first and most important tip to avoid becoming trapped in a tree well: Treat all trees as dangerous and always steer clear of them! Based on appearances alone, it is impossible to know which tree wells present the greatest risk.

Additionally, you should always have a partner when skiing or riding through the trees, and always keep them in sight. Never let the excitement of chasing fresh powder cloud your judgment — most tree well accidents occur during or just after big snow storms. In general, the more fresh snow, the higher the risk.

While our team does everything it can to provide a safe skiing experience, including avalanche mitigation, tree wells will always be a feature of skiing off-piste. To protect yourself and learn what to do if you or a partner is in a tree well accident, please visit deepsnowsafety.org.