nfhostel

mt. hefty

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:10:46 GMT

the wildflowers on the way up to mt. hefty were pretty spectacular; not to speak of the views:

looking toward the Canadian Flathead

the fight for the flathead

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:52:00 GMT

Environmental victories come in increments, not meetings

NEWS - From the July 19, 2010 issue of High Country News

By Ray Ring

A six-seater Cessna flew along the western edge of Glacier National Park on a perfect morning in late June. The sky was sunny, bright blue; the valleys glowed in lush green hues. The ice on the peaks gleamed brilliantly -- a huge wild version of what a queen would wear, justifying the region’s title as "the Crown of the Continent."

"I fly all over the West," the pilot, Bruce Gordon, crackled over the headsets. "This is really unique -- quite remarkable!"

Meetings don’t get any better than this -- or anyway, it was an extension of a meeting: Gordon’s outfit, EcoFlight, and the National Parks Conservation Association were providing air tours to journalists and dignitaries attending the annual meeting of the Western Governors’ Association.

The environmentalists used the scenery -- which included bulldozed clearings and other disturbances -- to show why the ecosystem around Glacier Park needs protection from gas drilling and coal mining. They and their fellows and predecessors have been working for more than 35 years to conserve the ecosystem, which sprawls over millions of acres.

4th of July parade

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:40:25 GMT

Another great 4th of July parade in Polebridge and even the weather cooperated and the rain didn't threaten until after the parade... We are happy to have the Northern Lights Saloon under new ownership and management, although without liquor license until August, volleyball games have resumed, more smiles and giggles in Polebridge.

bike riding going-to-the-sun road

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:39:14 GMT

these photos are courtesy of Paul Maude form Boulder Colorado. Here are two black bears feeding along camas road, comfortably watched form the safety of the vehicle...

right now is the best time of the year to be on going-to-the-sun road, you can ride your bike to the top or almost and won't have to put up with any vehicle traffic! Every Day should be like that!

there was four of us from the hostel heading up to the pass,

Morels and Shooting Stars

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:03:48 GMT

some favorable weather got me out to enjoy wildflowers and mushrooms abundant this time of the year:

this little collection made for a nice little meal last night, Yummi!

here are some shooting stars which are blooming in abundance, besides glacier lilies, violets, balsam root and my absolute favored this time of the year, the white blossoms of all the saskatoon or service berry every where.

Numa Lookout and Quartz Lake Loop

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:19:49 GMT

here is a view from numa lookout over bowman lake and across the north fork valley, there was still some snow to get through but it was fun to come down.

Andi is taking some photos from the lookout.

b-day lunch at upper quartz lake

head of bowman lake

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:25:23 GMT

a clouple of nice trilliums on the bowman lake shore trail... not too much vegetation yet, oh there were also some violets in bloom....

rainbow as striking as ever, but no loons today (Saturday, May 15 ), too many motorboats on the lake. Last Wednesday a loon woke me from my nap at the lake shore, how awful!

it looks great back here and i'm sure brown pass is doable soon! Happy days in the north fork

Bowman Lake in May

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:07:27 GMT

After some goof rain/ snow storms across the Rockies some good May weather warranted a ride up to Bowman Lake. A cool breeze of the mountains with it's new snow load kept me from spending too much time it its waters. Also, if you compare this photo to the one I posted in April you can notice some more snow up there, not significantly but a good sign for our rivers this summer.

North Fork Road Facts

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:11:19 GMT

Here are some facts regarding the North Fork Road: In 1999, Dr. Jack Stanford of the Yellow Bay Biological Station debunks the myth of fugitive dust affecting water and air quality in the North Fork. "The dust probably has no measurable effect on the river, because the river carries a very high sediment load naturally..." In addition, note Stanford’s reference to runoff from road berm erosion and accelerated river bank erosion related to increased runoff from clear cuts...

Spring

oliver@nfhostel.com (hostelmeister) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:52:17 GMT

Here is Bowman Lake during last week's summer weather: