Snow slowly receding in North Fork

I doubt my last column wishing for sunshine had anything to do with it, but the sunny skies and warm days were sure to lift the spirits.

Now, in addition to the main North Fork Road, Trail Creek Road is bare for over three miles. Big Creek/Coal Creek roads are opening up. South-facing slopes are mostly bare and bare ground is expanding from what were tree wells.

The only negative is that this is the breeding season for potholes and, worse, the newborn potholes grow fast and start breeding while very young.

The river is rising and getting muddy as we expect, but if the weather cooperates, I still think we will have a good run off with no major flooding.

By now, NFLA members and selected others involved in the North Fork should have received their spring newsletters with the summer social calendar. If you are a North Fork landowner, we hope you will join us. Dues for landowners are only $15 per year and the money is used for social activities and maintenance and upkeep on Sondreson Hall. Non landowners who are interested in supporting the community can become associate members for only $10 per year. Associates receive all the benefits of membership, including the newsletters, except they may not be elected to office or vote in elections. We particularly invite Forest Service and Glacier Park folks to become associate members, along with County and Fish and Game officials. Don’t be surprised if I show up at your door with application forms and my hand out. Wouldn’t hurt political candidates to do the same thing if they are interested in the North Fork, as they say in their speeches. Or, write me at Box 3, Columbia Falls, or email me at lwilson@aboutmontana.net and I will mail an application.

The newsletter is the main result of work by Carol Gnoebe and Chris Heite, plus articles by Lynn Ogle, Allen Chrisman, Lois Walker and Mark Heaphy. Besides social activites, the articles give great information on wildfire and how to protect your property, the activity of the North Fork Patrol, as well as the latest in the Lois Walker series of North Fork history. This time, she writes about the history of the Pole Bridge, which, since 1988, has been converted to steel and concrete.

Finally, the Sunshine Committee, chaired by Bonny Ogle, has really been busy with what seems almost like an epidemic of death and illness. In the illness category, we have had way too many serious health problems, including dementia, heart attacks, strokes and cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to all and I hope all that those who are ill recover fully and quickly and are able to be on the North Fork this summer.

P.S. the Home Ranch Store is open!

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.