North Forkers to be studied

Another holiday season is over. On the North Fork, we had a great Christmas party, a collection of New Year's Eve gatherings and 30 people gathered on the bank of the river for the annual beach party.

There was just enough snow to ride through the woods on snowmobiles and gather around two brightly burning campfires to enjoy hot dogs, baked beans, chili and an assortment of liquid stimulants, as well as each other's company.

Peter and Tanya Fontaine rode and drove a snowmobile for the first time, and Alice Caldwell got her first ride on one, which she compared to riding a fast roller coaster. To top it off, it was a bright, sunny day with temperatures in the plus-20 degrees range, which made the snow-covered mountains glow in the distance. A perfect day.

So was New Year's Eve, with a big gathering at the Berg house followed by a tremendous fireworks display next door at the Webber's.

Although the holidays certainly create a major number of social events, we still have a full schedule ahead. With satellite TV, our attention now turns to the college bowl games and NFL playoffs, which create more social gatherings with cold weather treats, like Naomi Hoiland's chicken and dumplings.

If that isn't enough, the University of Montana Geography Department will be back on the North for the third year in a row. Rick Graetz and his wife Suzie, geography department chair Sarah Halversen and other faculty and about 19 students will be at the hostel for a week as part of a class studying Montana's mountains.

As they have in the past, Rick will also do a presentation and slide show at Sondreson Hall. This year's topic will be "High Asia - the highest mountains in the world." It will take place at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16, and faculty and students will be there to interact with locals to learn about our life in the backcountry. College students are always fun to talk with - they're full of fun, intelligent and full of enthusiasm.

We still have a shortage of snow and the road is very slick in spots. Caution is important when driving just to keep your own vehicle on the road and can be downright dangerous when meeting or being passed by someone who is not familiar with winter conditions on the North Fork. I literally creep down Vance Hill because of the danger of meeting a car going too fast up the hill.

Be careful out there and have a safe, prosperous and happy 2012.