.. is totally dry and a fun bike ride this time of year. There was no huckleberry ice-cream in Apgar however, a tea would have been more welcomed anyways. The Montana House was already open but otherwise peace and quiet at Lake McDonald.
today would have been a much better day for glacier view, I got at least good look at it during my ride 🙂
Blue, the dog and I headed up to Glacier View today while Oliver, the cat stayed home cleaning and minding the top bunk in the greenhouse. As spring days go in the mountains there was just enough snow to tease us out on the trail.. 
hardly hit the snow when we stumbled upon a trail made by some creature just woken from a lengthy slumber and ambling through the bright mountain-scape. As we kept on the skies darkened and Blue started to question my sanity:
but once on top even the old lady is taking it in, even so there is no view but plenty of the stuff that makes glaciers. 
It blew so hard that our tracks were blown in a matter of minutes: spring in the mountains!
Polebridge Mercantile
Opening for the season on May 1, just a few short days away!
Hours to be:
May: 7am-close (6ish during the week and 9ish on weekends)
June-August: 7am-10pm
September-November: 7am-close (6ish during the week and 9ish on weekends)
Cheers!
old man winter is hanging around this year and snow still is piling up. Were it not for the birds and the long days I would not believe the calendar. On the other side : the fist greens are sprouting in the green house, so there is still hope…
Looking down on to the north fork of the flathead from glacier view mountain a few years back, the weather has been so wintery  this year that I start to wonder how long before I actually can put my hiking boots on. So far it is still skiing in the early mornings and post holing or getting stuck in the mud in the afternoons… and since it is raining even the early morning skiing became questionable.
here is a great movie that Andi did on his trip to Montana last spring. Thanks Andi, hope you are doing well!
the best of it all, while I’m posting this I’m watching from the hostel window a group of a dozen wandering elk passing by the river …
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J67iIVHAwNU’]
Located in the North Fork Valley just west of Glacier National Park, the North Fork Hostel offers guests a choice of accommodations in an old-fashioned, old world atmosphere. It’s a place to get away, relax, meet new friends and enjoy the beauty of Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest.
Propane lights brighten your nights (there’s no electricity in Polebridge). Although the area is off the power grid, the hostel has a small solar system and allows recharging of  your devices during the power hour. A propane cooking range and refrigerators are available to make your food preparation easier after you have spent an exciting day exploring the area.
Visitors from all around the world enjoy our facilities. It is not uncommon to begin your day by having a fascinating conversation with travelers from other countries while enjoying your morning coffee.
All guests may use the amenities of the hostel. These include a living room, shower, and kitchen and refrigerator facilities. Bedding and Towels are normally not provided but can be rented for a fee.
Your friendly hostelmeister is Oliver. He has traveled the world extensively and understands hosteller’s needs. He is fluent in English, German. You can make reservations online, by email or give Oliver a call at the hostel.
All guests may use the amenities of the hostel. These include a living room, shower, and kitchen and refrigerator facilities.
Your friendly hostelmeister is Oliver. He has traveled the world extensively and understands hosteller’s needs. He is fluent in English, German and sometimes Italian and Spanish. you can make reservations online, by email or give Oliver a call at the hostel.
Today was an awesome ski into big prairie. You had to go early in the morning but it was well worth it:
It is called the goat chalet because, as the story goes, John used to house a couple of goats in there at one point, but today it is my most favored rental cabin at the hostel.
It has a queen size bed, a potbelly stove for heat and a small table with two chairs.
(27′ x 21′) completed in 1955
The North Cabin offers full kitchen facilities and a fireplace. The master bedroom downstairs has a queen size bed and there are two full size beds in the loft upstairs. Only available May trough September.
Occupancy up to 6 people, $100 + 7% tax ( for 4 people) a weeknight, add $20 for Friday and Saturday nights, $20 for each additional person and 3 nights minimum rental required! Pets are allowed for an additional fee.
one master bedroom (9’x 10′) with a queen bed and loft (11′ x 20′) with two double beds
“stuffed” easy chairs, couch and cocktail table
rock fireplace, screen and utensils
small tables, freestanding coat rack
propane lights and propane refrigerator
one Montgomery Ward wood cooking range and propane range for cooking and baking
kitchen table and two 4′ rustic, homestead benches
silverware, sharp knives, steel skillets, cast iron skillet, dishpans, coffee cups, large plates, drinking cups, small pots, coffee pot, cooking pots, cookie sheets, pie pans, shallow baking pans, hot pads
cold running water in summer (not potable – boil 5 minutes) Persons using the cabins do not have a safe drinking water supply available on premises; drinking water is available at the North Fork Hostel – ¾ mile (1.2 km) away. Containers must be brought with you to obtain safe drinking water at the North Fork Hostel.
solar shower during sunny days next to the Charlie Wise Homestead
stocked woodshed
log outhouse
Water is not potable, please boil for five minutes- you also can get drinking water at the hostel. Dish washing:
wash (warm soapy water)
Rinse (cold water)
Sanitize (cold water + ½ cap bleach)
Please wash and put away all dishes.
Please do not leave water in pots during freezing weather. They will freeze and break. It is best to tell us if the propane refrigerator is acting up. They are tricky to deal with.
Regarding the damper in the fireplace: towards you is open; to back is closed.
Please replace firewood and kindling in the cabin for the next person.
How to light propane lights: please first light match or lighter and hold it near (touch with the flame and not the match) the mantle inside the glass bowl and than turn gas on. Mantels are fragile to touch. Do not turn gas on first. To extinguish, turn gas off.
Solar shower is located south of the South cabin. Use during warmth of day for best results.
If you need supplies for the outhouse or find any problems, please let us at the hostel know.
Pack in and Pack out!
Please take out all your garbage and trash! Do not leave any of it outside! This is grizzly country!
Note: Please leave the place like you found it, so we can maintain our low rates.
If the cabin requires cleaning after use or any trash needs to be removed we will charge you for the service.
The original Charlie Wise Homestead from circa 1918. Has it’s own kitchen facilities and fireplace, one master bedroom with a queen size bed and a full size bed and a hide-a-bed couch in the living room. The log outhouse was featured in a book of outhouses, as well as a magazine for Montana State University. Newspaper article about Charlie Wise are in picture frames on the wall of the homestead also called the South Cabin.
Occupancy up to 4Â people, $100 + 7% tax ( for 2Â people) a weeknight, add $20 for Friday and Saturday nights, $20 for each additional person and 3 nights minimum rental required! Pets are allowed for an additional fee.
one master bedroom with double bed and living room with antique, oak double bed from the 1800’s
and a hide-a-bed, that can be used in front of the fireplace
“stuffed” easy chairs, couch and cocktail table
wood heater dated 1898, rock fireplace
screen and utensils
small tables, freestanding coat rack
propane lights and propane refrigerator
one Irish, wood cooking range and propane range for cooking and baking
wooden kitchen table and chairs
silverware, sharp knives, steel skillets, cast iron skillets, dishpans, coffee cups, large plates, drinking cups, small pots, coffee pot, cooking pots, cookie sheets, pie pans, shallow baking pans, hot pads
cold running water in summer (not potable – boil 5 minutes) Persons using the cabins do not have a safe drinking water supply available on premises; drinking water is available at the North Fork Hostel – ¾ mile (1.2 km) away. Containers must be brought with you to obtain safe drinking water at the North Fork Hostel
solar shower during sunny days next to the log home
stocked woodshed
unique log outhouse
Water is not potable, please boil for five minutes- you also can get drinking water at the hostel. Dish washing:
wash (warm soapy water)
Rinse (cold water)
Sanitize (cold water + ½ cap bleach)
Please wash and put away all dishes.
Please do not leave water in pots during freezing weather. They will freeze and break.
It is best to tell us if the propane refrigerator is acting up. They are tricky to deal with.
To light Kitchen Wood stove: After laying paper and kindling in cooking range, put lit piece of paper in little door at base of stovepipe, you will smoke yourself out.
To start fire in Wood stove open flap at air vent briefly, but after fire is going well, turn open draft about one turn at most. Never close air vent completely.
To set fire for the night or when it becomes too warm, open back draft on floor. It acts like a damper and slows down fire. Use clothes pins at bottom to keep back draft open.
Please replace firewood and kindling in the cabin for the next person.
How to light propane lights: please first light match or lighter and hold it near (touch with the flame and not the match) the mantle inside the glass bowl and than turn gas on, mantles are fragile. Do not turn gas on first. To extinguish, turn gas off.
Solar shower is located south of the South cabin. Use during warmth of day for best results.
If you need supplies for the outhouse or find any problems, please let us at the hostel know.
Pack in and Pack out!
Please take out all your garbage and trash! Do not leave any of it outside! This is grizzly country!
Note: Please leave the place like you found it, so we can maintain our low rates.
If the cabin requires cleaning after use or any trash needs to be removed we will share you for the service.
Thank you for your cooperation!
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For a little more plush camping we have a tipi available that sports a double bed but still has a dirt floor and lets you experience all the night sounds. A small fire is possible if we’re not in the middle of a forest fire season. Only available in July and August.
