The wildflowers are buried under a layer of winter white, but the Montana Wilderness Association is still leading walks for the public.

You’ll have to hurry to make a reservation for the last activity near Missoula, a seven-mile trip in the O’Brien Creek area on Saturday, Feb. 12. The deadline to sign up is tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 5. Call 531-8347 or e-mail daphne.herling@business.umt.edu.

The group will meet at the O’Brien Creek trailhead, about 10 miles from downtown Missoula near Blue Mountain. The route will be up the north side of the drainage to an old logging road and along the South O’Brien Creek Trail Loop. Total elevation gain is about 1,200 feet, with some steep terrain and some contouring in generally open meadows that are prime elk habitat.

Check the MWA’s Winter Wilderness Walks schedule for more events planned outside of Missoula.

Justin Grigg