Tag Archives: Larry Wilson

Larry Wilson: North Fork Road lake filled in

Commentary, News, , ,

In this week’s column for the Hungry Horse News, Larry Wilson discusses the condition of the North Fork Road (much improved) and recent activities at Sondreson Hall (very successful) . . .

The river continues to run high and muddy, but so far no real damage from flooding. In my view, every day that passes makes a major flood less likely. I would not say a flood is impossible, but I sure think the chances are a lot less likely than they were two weeks ago.

The road is also better. Flathead County crews worked last week to at least mitigate the problems. Wurtz Hill was smoothed out somewhat, and the lowest slumps were evened out so that all of the ledges are gone and the hill is passable for passenger cars, but it’s still rough and drivers need to go slowly.

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Larry Wilson: Parts of North Fork Road now impassable

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In this week’s column for the Hungry Horse News, Larry Wilson reports on the condition of the North Fork Road — essentially impassable near the border — and on the high points of the recent North Fork Landowners Association meeting . . .

Yes, there is still concern that there could be flooding on the North Fork. No, it is not a certainty, and we just have to wait and see how fast the snow melts in the high country.

For all intents and purposes, the North Fork Road is now closed from just north of Joe Franchini’s driveway to the international border. There are two obstacles…

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Larry Wilson: Rain hampering North Fork drivers

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Larry Wilson talks about the state of the river (tolerable so far) and the state of the North Fork Road (pretty bad, especially further north).

It may have been cold, wet, and nasty in the Flathead Valley this last week, but it was twice as nasty on the North Fork.

All in all, that has been a good thing for the river. Although the river is muddy and running nearly bank-full, there has been no flood damage. The threat of flooding is not over, merely postponed. There’s still a lot of snow in the high country, but I remain confident that we will not have major flooding unless we have heavy warm rain. The cold rain of the week is supposed to be replaced this week with warming temperatures and little rain. Hopefully, although the river will be high, we will have little damage.

The rain did have an affect on the North Fork Road…

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(Many roads in the Flathead National Forest are in rough shape, too. Call one of the ranger stations for the latest conditions: Hungry Horse/Glacier View at 387-3800, Tally Lake at 758-5204, Swan Lake at 837-7500 and Spotted Bear at 758-5376.)

Larry Wilson: High country drives flooding

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Larry Wilson’s column this week discusses the spring thaw and the annual changes coming to the North Fork . . .

The snow is finally melting. In the last week, the piles of snow under my eaves have gone from being over three feet deep to just a narrow strip of ice, which will disappear today. Side roads and unplowed lanes that were snow-clogged 10 days ago are now dry.

More importantly, every day the snow line is higher up on both the Whitefish Divide and the Rocky Mountains, and the river has changed in the last three days from an unclear green to high and muddy. The gravel bar islands are beginning to disappear, and rain is predicted.

Will we have a flood? That is anybody’s guess…

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Larry Wilson: Sondreson Hall and the Flying Farmers

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Larry Wilson reflects on the passing of Ruth Sondreson and the many contributions the Sondresons made to the North Fork . . .

Mostly, I enjoy writing this column. The North Fork is special to me, and to the folks I write about, and we have special concerns about how to best preserve the area and the things that make it special. Among those things are the fish and wildlife, the forest, the river, and, of course, the rural lifestyle. That means we often disagree on how to protect the North Fork.

Occasionally, though, I have to write about sad or even tragic events, since living in a special place doesn’t shield us from the cycle of life. This week is one of those times.

We received word that Ruth Sondreson died on April 14. Ruth was the last person I know who was instrumental in the building of the North Fork Community Hall, which was later named Sondreson Hall.

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Forest Service pamphlet provides early history of North Fork Road

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Larry Wilson’s column this week reveals some tidbits about the early history of the North Fork Road . . .

This winter, I have spent more time in my Columbia Falls residence than up the North Fork. It has had some advantages. In town, I have a computer and have received a number of e-mails from North Fork landowners who reside in all corners of the U.S…

Four e-mails liked the columns about North Fork history and asked for more information about the Forest Service and the North Fork Road. As luck would have it, Lee Downes loaned me a Forest Service pamphlet prepared by Fred Burnell in 1980. The title is “History of Development of North Fork Road No. 210.” The following information came from the pamphlet.

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Larry Wilson: The times they are a-changin’

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Larry Wilson’s column this week discusses the changes on the North Fork over the last century or so, especially those related to Forest Service activity . . .

I have written several times about how change has affected the North Fork, especially the changes brought about by the influx of the two periods of homesteading that opened up the area with roads and dwellings and, most of all, with people.

Of course, there were white men in the North Fork before the homesteaders. The earliest were no doubt trappers and hunters who left no written records to speak of and few marks on the land.

Without a doubt the U.S. Forest Service has had the longest presence on the North Fork closely followed by the U.S. Park Service.

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Larry Wilson: ‘The Road,’ a history

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This week, Larry Wilson discusses the state of the North Fork Road this mud season and compares it with conditions in past decades . . .

I made two round trips from Trail Creek to Columbia Falls this week and one of my neighbors asked how I fared on the terrible road. My reply was that I thought the road was really good – for the time of year.

How you view the North Fork Road is a matter of perception. If you compare it to Interstate 90 it is always awful. In fact, by comparison, it isn’t a road at all, it’s a nearly impassable ditch.

If you compare it to how it was in 1950 it is greatly improved…

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Larry Wilson: North Valley Rescue folks true heroes

Commentary,

On the occasion of its fourth annual awards banquet, Larry Wilson has nice things to say about the North Valley Rescue Association. You’ll probably recognize a few names . . .

Last Saturday evening North Valley Rescue Association held its fourth annual awards banquet. Main awards are to recognize at least one member for the their service to the organization and at least one local citizen or business for their support over a period of years.

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