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

Reminder: NFLA general meeting this Sunday at 7pm, preceded by a presentation from the Flathead K9 Foundation at 6pm

This month’s NFLA meeting kicks off with a 6:00pm presentation and K9 demo by President Julie Balch & members of the Flathead K9 Foundation. In addition, Julie is going to try to have some law enforcement K9’s and a few Search and rescue K9’s in attendance. Here’s a link for more information on the organization and how to support them: https://flatheadk9.org/team/.

The general membership meeting begins at 7:00pm. (The last two meetings of the year start an hour earlier.)

Change of venue for the Aug 23 Pizza Party at 6pm

Due to construction traffic on Whale Creek , the pizza party will be moved to the river at Wurtz, still on August 23 at 6:00pm. Turn east off the North Fork Road at the Wurtz cabin, go over the bridge and head for the river. Follow the signs to the party. We will try to get a spot for all of us by the river but, if there are too many campers, we will hold it on the old airstrip. Regardless, it will be fun and we hope to see you there.

As always, bring chairs, drinks, toppings, sauce or cheese to share. Oven & dough provided.

Please let your neighbors and friends know about the change.

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