Guided snowshoe walks offered across Montana

The Montana Wilderness Association will host 55 guided snowshoe walks across some of the Montana’s quiet beauty and treasured wild places beginning in January.

Now in its 11th season, MWA’s Winter Wilderness Walks program offers hikers of all ages and experience levels an opportunity to participate in a traditional recreation opportunity while meeting new people, explore and view wildlife in a winter setting.

The trips are free and open to the public, but participants need to preregister online and contact the trip leader. MWA will provide snowshoes if necessary.

Numerous trips are planned in the mountainous areas south of Missoula, Bozeman and Livingston, in the Blackfoot River area, and along the full length of the Rocky Front Some local trips include:

• Saturday, Feb. 8 — A 3-5 mile winter ecology tour with Ellen Horowitz, from Flathead Valley Community College and the Glacier Institute, meet at MWA office in Whitefish, 750 Second Street West, at 9 a.m.

• Saturday, March 1 — A 5-6 mile hike to Lower Krause Basin in the Swan Range led by John Larson and Carol Barnes, meet at Foothills Drive and Strawberry Lake Road at 9:30 a.m.

• Saturday, April 12 — A 5-mile hike along Lubec Ridge with views of the northern portion of the Badger-Two Medicine area with Kerrell Flint and Gina Rink, meet at Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier at 8 a.m.

• Sunday, April 20 — A moderately strenuous 6-mile hike to Upper Holland Lake in the Swan Range with Kate Stanley and Caitlyn Berkowitz.

To download the complete 2014 Winter Wilderness Walks schedule and preregister, visit online at www.wildmontana.org/walks. For more information, call program coordinator Laura Parr at 406-443-7350 ext.110 or e-mail mwa@wildmontana.org.