Hoping for an Indian Summer
Larry Wilson / For the Hungry Horse News
Last week I noted that there were signs that fall was approaching. This week we have been hit on the head with fall weather. High temperatures barely reaching 60 degrees, nighttime temperatures below 32 degrees. Square Peg Ranch has 24-hour water sprinklers and the spray was surrounded by a circle of ice on Saturday morning.
Add rain, hail and only short periods of sun and it is fall! If you need more, to top it off the mountains on both the Continental Divide and the Whitefish Divide received a dusting of snow. This may be the week that sends the tourists home and ushers in a long Indian Summer. I hope so; I wouldn't cry if our first snowstorm arrived in the North Fork Valley about Nov. 1.
With friends, I took an ATV ride from Trail Creek to Kintla Lake last weekend. Started out cold, but a hot sandwich and equally hot coffee at the Merc encouraged us to continue the trip. The inside road is narrow, rough and dusty and much more pleasant on an ATV than in a vehicle.
We had a picnic at Kintla Lake, enjoyed a brief chat with Lyle Ruterbories, the ranger, and made it home about 30 minutes before a major rainstorm started.
Kintla Ranger Lyle has been the host at Kintla Lake for twenty years. He is 90 years old with the energy and enthusiasm that he first brought to the job. He continues to do more physical work than any of the younger rangers anywhere. He, and the rest of us, still miss his wife Marge who was his partner for 65 years. I was glad to hear that he plans to return next year for his 21st season. In fact, I hope he is still at Kintla to celebrate his 100th birthday!
The Landowners' Association will hold its September business meeting this coming Saturday at 8 p.m. Special guest will be Dave Abbelglen, the Border Patrol Commander for the North Fork. He will talk about the Homeland Security mission to protect and monitor the International Border. As part of that mission I expect he will tell us about Operation Stone Garden, which provides money for local law enforcement to patrol the North Fork. Stone Garden is why we now see Sheriffs' vehicles on patrol. In addition to on duty patrol, I have also seen officers and their families recreating on the North Fork — fishing, boating, hiking, etc. I think that is a good thing. What do you think?
Remember to bring nonperishable food items to the meeting to donate to the Columbia Falls food pantry. This is a really good way to dispose of surplus food for summer residents who are returning home for the winter and is much appreciated by needy families.