Winter road conditions are here

Winter may not arrive until 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 21, but it sure seems like it on The North Fork. Snow, below zero and slick roads translate into winter to me. My last two trips to or from town have been what Ollie Terrian used to call real sphincter tighteners. Saw where people had slid off the road, one at the devils elbow that required a tow truck. Except for stress I had no trouble. It is mostly a matter of keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road and avoid too much accelerator or too much brake and allow inertia to aid your forward progress. All in all the road is good and you just have to expect winter driving conditions in December.

We were all saddened to hear of the passing of Carl Pittman in early December. Carl and Linda have been North Fork summer residents for many years and everyone knew of Carl’s enthusiasm for floating the river. It was a love he was always ready to share and dozens of young people and adults were invited to ride with him on the river. In recent years, when he was too frail to row, he was still on the river with friends and neighbors. He will be missed and our thoughts go out to his wife, Linda, during this difficult time.

Bob and Jackie Graham’s annual Christmas Party has achieved legendary status as they welcome one and all into their beautiful home to celebrate the Christmas season. All North Fork events feature wonderful people, our neighbors and plentiful tasty food and drink. This year there was also live music. A bass fiddle, accordion, guitar and piano manned by locals and supported by great voices singing holiday music that I wish had been recorded so I could enjoy it again and again.

Focus of the Fire Mitigation Committee this year was creating a shaded fuel break on Trail Creek Road to facilitate its use to bring in firefighters and provide an escape route for residents in case the main road is closed by a fire emergency. To reduce or eliminate the cost to cooperating landowners Flathead County offered to chip the brush and small trees removed to create the fuel break on both sides of the road.

Originally, the county said this would be done in October or November so there was somewhat of a rush to complete the week before that. October and November passed with no chipper. Now, in mid-December the brush piles are covered with snow and frozen together. No way they can be efficiently chipped until the spring after the snow melts. This is the kind of thing that causes folks to distrust government agencies.

Agreements, entered into with every good intention on both sides, get caught up in the mish-mash of the agencies and promises made in good faith are not honored. I hope Flathead County makes good on their promise next spring and have a good explanation to offer at the Winter Interlocal Meeting. What do you think?