Larry Wilson: Worrying about weather, floods and fires

Commentary, ,

This week, Larry talks about folk’s penchant to worry about the weather . . .

Apparently we humans have an inbred need to worry about something all of the time. In the first week of January, I heard several people comment that they were worried that if it didn’t snow soon, we would have a really bad fire season next summer.

Now that we have had a week of fairly heavy snowfall (about two feet on Trail Creek, one foot in town), two people have commented that if this keeps up for two weeks, we’re likely to have spring floods.

Personally, I try not to worry about things that I can’t change or affect in any way – like the weather. Besides, a heavy snowpack does not mean there will be spring floods. Look at last winter. Record snowfall in the mountains. In many places, over 200 percent of normal. Despite the snow, we did not have severe flooding.

Same thing with fires. Many an open winter has been followed by a summer with few fires. Spring flooding and a severe fire season are usually the result of spring weather, not what happened in the previous winter.

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Larry Wilson: The North Fork Road is no longer an issue

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Larry does a retrospective on the big issues of last year, including the North Fork Road and successful efforts to terminate resource extraction activities in the transboundary Flathead Valley . . .

January is the month when everyone looks back on the previous year to see what the biggest news stories were and to make resolutions for the year that is just beginning. Hopefully, the resolutions will improve us in some way. We are no different on the North Fork.

For many years, the North Fork Road has been the biggest topic of controversy in the area – pave or don’t pave? Not in 2011. County improvements have reduced the road almost to a non-issue.

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Two skiers rescued after spending the night lost in Glacier Park

News, , ,

Here’s a little North Fork area search and rescue action . . .

Two cross-country skiers were rescued Sunday from the remote North Fork area of Glacier National Park after spending the night lost and stranded in the backcountry during a winter storm.

A husband and wife from Kalispell, ages 46 and 39 respectively, sent a 9-1-1 text message at 8 p.m. Saturday, saying they were lost in Glacier Park.

Flathead County dispatchers were able to determine that the message originated from a remote location about one mile north of the Akokala Creek Trail in the North Fork, about six miles north of Polebridge. Park rangers were notified, but ground and air searches could not begin until Sunday morning because of bad weather, downed trees and difficult trail conditions.

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Flathead County road department is planning ahead

News, ,

Well, we can’t go too many weeks without talking about the darn road. So, here’s the latest, courtesy of the Daily Inter Lake. The item of most direct interest to North Forkers is that the county will probably start taking applications for this summer’s dust control cost-share program in February . . .

The work plan that classifies and prioritizes Flathead County road projects will be updated in the next few months, following Thursday action by the county commissioners.

County Public Works Director Dave Prunty asked commissioners to approve a $7,900 expenditure to Peccia and Associates to update that plan, which they prepared about two years ago. The document identifies which roads will be maintained and which roads will be improved each year.

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Larry Wilson: North Forkers to be studied

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This week, Larry wraps up the year-end news and discusses the impending arrival of a group from the University of Montana Geography Department . . .

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.

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Flathead Basin snowpack just 69 percent of average

News, ,

Confirming what everyone has noticed, snow accumulation is considerably less than normal so far this winter . . .

Mountain snowpack in the Flathead River Basin is 69 percent of average, according to Jan. 1 figures from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Kootenai River Basin to the west has snowpack that is 88 percent of average.Statewide, mountain snowpack is below average.

Jan. 1 represents about 45 percent of the expected seasonal snowfall, so more than half of the snowfall season remains.

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Winter North Fork Interlocal meeting scheduled for February 15

News,

The winter Interlocal meeting is scheduled for February 15. Here’s the official announcement from the North Fork Landowners’ Association website . . .

The 2012 North Fork Winter Interlocal will be hosted by Glacier National Park February 15, 2012 at the Glacier National Park Headquarters’ Community Building in West Glacier. The meeting will take place from 10am-1pm and include updates from all of the North Fork organizations and local agencies. Agencies planning to present include Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Flathead National Forest, the US Border Patrol, State Lands, Flathead County and others.

If you already have questions that you would like to ask, send them to contact@nflandowners.org and we’ll pass them along to the event organizers. Giving the presenters an opportunity to prepare in advance always helps ensure that the best information is provided.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear what is happening in our area and exchange ideas. For more information about who will be participating, see the draft meeting agenda here.

Larry Wilson: North Forkers throw beach party

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Larry reports on the North Fork Christmas and New Year festivities . . .

Boy, did we have a great Christmas party. Hosts Caldwell and Heaphy must have spent most of a day decorating the hall. There were twinkling lights overhead, brightly decorated tables and counters, and a 10-foot decorated Christmas tree. Even the front porch was decorated with boughs and bright red bows, and there was a greeter (Jan Caldwell) with a funny hat.

That was only the beginning . . .

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Larry Wilson: Be prepared for winter jaunts into the Montana backcountry

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This week, Larry discusses the importance of preparedness when traveling in the backcountry during winter . . .

As I write this on the Friday before Christmas, knowing that it won’t be read until after Christmas, I still can’t help but wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

As of today, we have very little snow and only a chance that more will fall before Christmas. I know the skiers and snowmobilers are unhappy about no snow, but it fits the old fat guy just fine.

Lack of snow in the lower elevations does not eliminate outdoor recreation. It just changes it. This week, North Valley Search and Rescue responded up Canyon Creek to rescue an ATV rider. With little snow in the river bottoms, this individual tried to ride his ATV between Canyon Creek and Big Creek. Higher up, he got his ATV stuck and couldn’t get it out.

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More snowy owls migrate to Montana this winter

Environmental Issues, News

This is pretty interesting. It seems Montana is getting more than its share of snowy owls this winter . . .

More snowy owls appear to have migrated from the Arctic to Montana and other states this winter in search of food.

The owls are identifiable by their brilliant white color, measure 2 feet tall or taller and have wingspans of nearly 5 feet.

In Montana, the owls have been seen from Kalispell to Plentywood and as far south as the Crow Reservation.

Last week, one snowy owl was spotted in the area of the Kidsports complex and Glacier High School in north Kalispell while five owls were observed in the Somers area.

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