From Larry Wilson’s column on May 17, 2017 in the Hungry Horse News: Nonie’s Schoolhouse History. It says… The Ford School was the only school Nonie ever attended, and the land for the school was donated by her stepfather Ralph Day. The school was built by the community, just like the Community Hall years later. Nonie started school when she was 6 in 1934, but she can’t remember what year it was built. Read Larry’s full column here.
Jim Dahlstrom is the new Glacier National Park ranger at Polebridge. He was kind enough to provide us with a biography (see below). Jim will be coming to an NFLA business meeting early in the summer to get acquainted. Welcome Jim!
I began my career with the NPS in 1999 at Rocky Mountain National Park first as a volunteer, then as a backcountry ranger for two seasons before becoming a law enforcement ranger in 2002. I’ve spent time working at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pipestone National Monument, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Teton National Park, and most recently was Chief Ranger for the Niobrara National Scenic River in Nebraska.
My wife Christy (also a NPS alumni) and I met at Rocky, and were married in Estes Park. We have an 8 year old son, Gerard, and 6 year old daughter, Medora. We enjoy camping, canoeing, hiking, backpacking, and fishing as a family and are so excited to be coming to the North Fork. If you are around the Ranger Station this summer and you hear someone yelling “Bear!” keep in mind the kids might be playing with our pug.
My emphasis on serving as a NPS ranger has always been to serve the visitor, while protecting the Park’s resources. I have had the pleasure of working in some amazing places and have always found that it is the dedicated individuals in local communities that step up to help take care of our country’s treasures.
I first heard about the North Fork early in my NPS career, as a place of tremendous beauty and genuine rustic character. I knew back then that being able to serve in an area like that would be my idea of heaven. I am humbled at the opportunity to serve this area and one of the crown jewels of the NPS, and look forward to making new friends and helping take care of one of America’s crown jewels.
Although the May 30th 1st Aid and CPR training has been filled, openings are still available in the June 20th class.
On June 20th, Bob Lee is providing 1st Aid and CPR training with certification beginning at 9AM at Sondreson Hall, lasting most of the day. Please bring your lunch and drinks. The cost is $35. This class is limited to 10 individuals. Please contact Randy Kenyon at 752-5935 or kenyonnorthfork@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
The Daily Inter Lake published an article about the Inside North Fork Road in Glacier National Park that included some good history of the road. Click here to get a copy of that article.
The Hungry Horse News says that if the crowds of last summer continue, Glacier National Park is considering implementing a “one car in, one car out,” plan for some of its dead-end roads, Superintendent Jeff Mow said last week during a talk in Kalispell. The overcrowding problem was particularly acute at Bowman Lake, where parking would fill to capacity and people would park on the side of the narrow, dirt road. Some people last summer even rented a camping spot so they would have a place to park. Read the full story here.
The summary says… By mid-late July, the western fire season will begin to progress north into the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. While a normal transition into fire season is expected in the lower elevations, a delayed entrance is possible in the higher elevations as both regions enter their fire seasons having seen abundant winter and spring precipitation and snowpack accumulation.
It’s that time of year again… the NFLA has published its Spring newsletter and calendar for 2017. Very exciting.
In this newsletter you’ll read all about the history of the NFIA/NFLA as it celebrates its 70th birthday. You’ll also read about the long history of dancing on the North Fork, memories from Larry Wilson about the NFIA/NFLA, and the early mail service on the North Fork. There is also an update from the NFLA Fire Mitigation Committee and the upcoming Summer Interlocal.
For NFLA members who have paid their dues for the year, the newsletter and calendar should be coming to you through the mail any day now. Both the newsletter and the calendar can also be downloaded at any time from the NFLA Newsletters web page. You can also get copies of past newsletters from this page as well.
President Randy Kenyon expresses all of our appreciation to the folks who made this year’s newsletter and calendar possible including Allen Chrisman for the layout, scribes Arne Boveng, Lois Walker, Debo Powers, Molly Shepard and Larry Wilson along with Chris Heitz and Jan Caldwell. It’s our hard working volunteers that make the NFLA the outstanding community organization that it is.
Currently 17.0 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel.
Visitors can drive 11.5 miles from the West Entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge, and 5.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Rising Sun.
The section of the road between Lake McDonald Lodge and Rising Sun is closed due to plowing. The East Side vehicle closure is currently at Rising Sun approximately 5.5 miles past the St Mary Entrance. On the west side, hiker/biker access is to the Logan Pit, approximately 10 miles past the vehicle closure, while the road crew is working. On the east side, there is no traffic allowed past Rising Sun including hiker/biker restrictions, though visitors need to follow the signage guiding them around the St Mary Entrance Station construction.
The Camas Road is Open!
And here is a special note from our new Polebridge Ranger Jim Dahlstrom… The road is now open going north 7 miles to the gate on the other side of Big Prairie. The road going south is not open to vehicles yet, but might be this weekend.
Randy is trying to arrange for Ranger Dahlstrom to join us at the first NFLA meeting in June.
Here’s a message from NFLA President Randy Kenyon… The commissioners are holding a public hearing on the Short Term Rental proposal passed on to them from the Planning Board and Planning Office on June 1st at 10:00 am. The North Fork has been excluded from this proposed regulation. This means we are “almost” assured of not being included, but the commissioners can do whatever they please, however unlikely.
For more information on what this is about, see Flathead County Short Term Rental Regulation Proposal – Summary
Molly Shepherd has written up her notes from the 2017 Winter Interlocal. Highlights include information about the Federal Lands Access Proposal (FLAP) grant, the Forest Plan Revision, plans for Sondreson Meadow, the battle against aquatic invasive species, updates from FWP on wildlife including grizzly and wolves, the inside North Fork road, and short-term vacation rentals.
These useful and interesting notes may be downloaded as a PDF document to your computer by clicking here.