Free avalanche education hike is Jan. 20

Avalanche expert Jon Jeresek is leading an avalanche awareness snowshoe hike to Flatiron Mountain Saturday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Montana Wilderness Association is sponsoring this free hike.

Aimed at skiers, snowmobilers and other outdoor enthusiasts, the hike will teach avalanche awareness and rescue skills by focusing on safe decision making, reading the snowpack’s layers and avalanche transceiver orientation.

The group will meet at the junction of Pipe Creek Road and Highway 37 at 9 a.m. and carpool to Flatiron. The strenuous hike is almost five miles and has 1,500 feet of vertical gain, and offers good views of the Yaak.

Please bring lunch, water, and adequate warm clothing, as well as snowshoes and ski poles if you have them.

For more information or to register, contact Jeresek at jjeresek@gmail.com or 406-293-8246, and let him know if you need to borrow one of the available transceivers or snowshoes.