Category: News

No prescribed burns planned for the North Fork this fall

According to a recent press release, there are no prescribed burns planned for the North Fork this fall — or in the entire Hungry Horse or Glacier View ranger districts, for that matter. The Spotted Bear, Tally Lake and Swan Lake districts have a few lined up, however. Click on the map for details.

Note that the map does not display “…both landing and hand piles that are not identified on the map which may also be burned when conditions become favorable.” I’m guessing this might include some of the slash and other debris piled at the Ford Schoolhouse site.

Short North Fork Road closure Sep 21 for Cedar Creek Marathon

Many of you probably got a card in your mailbox regarding a short (6-10am) North Fork Road Closure between the Camas intersection and end-of gravel due to the running of the Cedar Creek Marathon on Saturday, September 21.

According to the postcard . . . Continue reading Short North Fork Road closure Sep 21 for Cedar Creek Marathon

Hay Creek Road open – for now

The last few miles of the Hay Creek Road (Road 376) have been closed to vehicle traffic since early last year due to a couple of massive “slumps” that spilled across the road, burying everything in their path, including the drainage culverts. The west end of the road has been essentially impassible until last week when the Forest Service reopened it on a temporary basis. Continue reading Hay Creek Road open – for now

Ford Schoolhouse: Call for Volunteers

Ford Schoolhouse tree removal - fire crew at work
Ford Schoolhouse tree removal – fire crew at work

The Forest Service is hoping to assemble a work crew to do a few projects at Ford Schoolhouse during the last week of August. Potential projects: Replace the south sill log on the building, and/or begin installing sub-flooring for a new floor that will be installed next summer. (Curiously, the old floor that they removed this summer did not have any sub-flooring.)

Contact Lois Walker at lewalker@nvdi.net and she will pass names to Ryan Powell, the Forest Service archeologist who will be in charge of the work.

Northwest Montana Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in effect Saturday August 3 at 12:01 am

It’s that time again! From the official press release . . .

August 1st, 2024 — Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 across the Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Glacier National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Northwestern Land Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1, Lincoln County, Flathead County, and Sanders County. Continue reading Northwest Montana Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in effect Saturday August 3 at 12:01 am

First Aid/CPR/AED Course July 23

First Aid SignageBob Lee will once again be giving his well-regarded First Aid/CPR/AED class in the North Fork this summer. It is an all-day course, starting at 9:00am and wrapping up by 4:00pm. The date is Tuesday, July 23. The course will be held at Sondreson Hall. Cost is $45/person. Bring your own lunch and drinks. Class size is limited to 10 people.

The course offers two-year AHA certification in First Aid, CPR and AED usage. If your job requires certified First Aid training, your current certification is expiring or if you just want to get up to speed on such things, this is an excellent way to get it done.

Contact Bill Walker, 406-407-2764 or wkwalker@nvdi.com to sign up for the course.

Issues for the 2024 North Fork Summer Interlocal

Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger, making a presentation at 2023 Summer North Fork Interlocal, July 12, 2023 - W. K. Walker
Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger, making a presentation at 2023 Summer North Fork Interlocal, July 12, 2023 – W. K. Walker

In case some of you are North Fork residents/landowners, but are not on the Interlocal mailing list, Here’s a copy of a recent email about submitting local issues and concerns for discussion at the meeting…

Hi, folks.

This year’s Summer 2024 Interlocal  Agreement Meeting is hosted by the North Fork Preservation Association on July 10, 1:00pm, at Sondreson Hall. It is preceded by the annual Firewise meeting at 9:30am and lunch at noon. Continue reading Issues for the 2024 North Fork Summer Interlocal

North Fork Road construction season begins with lots of gravel hauling

As some of us noticed, especially those  who live within earshot of the North Fork Road, there has been a lot of heavy gravel hauling going on. According to Stephanie McElhinney, the Federal Highways Administration project engineer, it is related to this year’s scheduled construction work on the upper five miles of the North Fork Road:

The contractor was up in Whale Creek on Monday/Tuesday.  They hauled out 14 trucks with of material to take down to Cutting Edge’s facility.  My understanding from another FHWA staff member was there were other trucks up in the area as well doing culvert repair.

She went on to say that we’ll see more action starting in early June, the official start date for the project, which includes work on both the top five miles of the North Fork Road and on Glacier Drive between Polebridge and Glacier Park. There will also be a project newsletter posted within the next few weeks.

For overall project information, see: Federal Highways Administration 2024 construction plans for the North Fork Project