Columns
Searching for opinion based articles? Below we'll share opinion news articles on a wide variety of topics.
Apgar Lookout: This early season jaunt a great way to get in shape, with views
The Apgar Mountain Lookout Trail is one of those trails to hike first thing in the season because it’s easy to get…
Tragedy in North Fork
Our small, remote community is not used to tragedy. Even so, this last week a real tragedy hit us when we did not expect it.
In the minority
I know I have not written a column for several weeks. Usually, when I don’t write it is because not much has happened on the North Fork. That is not the case this time. If anything there has been more happening tha…
Supports pot law
I’m not a pro-marijuana guy. I voted against Montana’s adult-use cannabis initiative (I-190) in the 2020 election. However, since Montanans approved the initiative and recreational marijuana has taken effect in our…
Jonesing for bread
I made myself a loaf of bread the other day.
Backcountry eyes and ears
Last week’s meeting on reservations for Two Medicine and Many Glacier Valleys sure sounded like Glacier has its mind made up — the Thursday meeting at any rate.
Living with grizzlies as neighbors
When I was working with a Kenyan outdoor instructor in Wyoming’s Wind River Range a couple of decades ago, he surprised me one day by saying, “Hiking here feels like a walk in the park.”
Public land – a true blessing
t every Thanksgiving dinner, my family asks everyone around the table to say what they’re grateful for. It puts new guests on the spot, so sometimes they just thank the hosts — an easy out that makes it harder for …
Delayed decisions
I am really disappointed in our Flathead County Commissioners – again. They scheduled a hearing to decide whether to approve or reject the amendments to the North Fork Plan as proposed by the North Fork Land Use Ad…
Hunter orange, land use and snakes
What glorious weather! Blue sky, warm sunny days and cool nights. I don’t know how it could be better. Perfect fall pictures with larch, aspen and others showing their contrast with the pine and spruce. Perfect foo…
Bad news bears
My neighbor was doing some saw work the other day in his driveway. I figured he was working on his house. He was, sort of.
Rocky Road Work
The upper end of Trail Creek Road has always been rough and rocky. Spines of solid rock crossed the road in many places, it was narrow and you needed to drive slow to protect your vehicle and to prevent collisions …
Fire danger significant
The causes of global warming are way beyond my ability to figure out. It doesn’t take a genius to see that summers are longer than they used to be and so is the fire season. In recent years, it has become common fo…
Tell him what you think
The cool weather was enjoyed by everyone on the North Fork. Even better was the rain. Only bad thing was the lightning followed quickly by loud thunder. As we all know that means the lighting was close.
Board news
August is a busy month on the North Fork. Each of the landowner/private organizations hold their annual meetings and election of officers and everyone is interested in these even if it is becoming harder to find pe…
A rafting misadventure
Almost all of us enjoy the great outdoors of Montana. Most of us also realize that there can be danger out there. This is especially true for serious mountain climbers, snowmobilers, swiftwater adventurers and othe…