Author: Oliver Meister
Charlie Wise Homestead Fire
The Charlie Wise Homestead Cabin will not be available for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately there was a fire at the homestead cabin on October 5 last year. The damage is extensive, it destroyed the roof and its supporting structure and everything inside was lost.
Reconstruction will start this summer. I think the main log structure is salvageable but I don’t know yet which direction it will go.
I was working in and around the cabin, cleaning up the yard, stocking the woodpile, replacing beds, armchairs and tables. I did lite the wood stove for some heat and late afternoon while working in the yard we noticed the cabin being full of smoke. I did try to get inside but a wall of black smoke made it impossible. A friend emptied his fire extinguisher through the window into the corner where the wood stove was and I got my pump going that was still in the creek next to the cabin. We started to pump creek water into the cabin but with no noticeable effect. Several passerby helped in the effort. We got a bigger pump from the hostel. Blankenship, Columbia Falls and Bad Rock fire departments responded. We figured it took 6 to 7 hours between when we discovered the fire until it was out. Here are pictures from the day after:
More Smoke in the North Fork
Controlled burns in the National Forest just outside Polebridge are signaling the end of another long Fire Season. Traditionally these fires help to restore a more historical fire regime to the ecosystem, improve wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuels to reduce wildfire risk and aid in potential future fire suppression efforts and improve wildlife habitat.
Hostel closed for the Season
Due to smoke and threats from area wildfires the North Fork Hostel and Square Peg Ranch will close for the 2018 Season.
Smoke has lead to poor air quality and fires have prompted several evacuation orders and warnings on the west side of Glacier Park and the North Fork.
No significant rain has fallen and is not in the immediate forecast.
Numa Lookout
Hiking Season has started for me in Glacier:
Besides all the good biking on Going to the Sun Road, snow is disappearing fast in some places and it’s time to hit the trails again. Be aware, there are lots of downfall since the big storms we had since last season: On the Numa Ridge Trail I counted 4 to 5 dozen downed trees on the trail!
Bowman and Kintla Lakes
The roads to both lakes are now almost snow free! Continue reading “Bowman and Kintla Lakes”
Where the plow’s at
Camas Bridge to where the Plow is:
Photos along the way:
Good Bye Social Sharing
This will be the last blog post shared across multiple media services.
In light, actually more like, in growing shadow of recent events we won’t share any more hostel posts on social media. My blog post are still accessible on the hostel’s website: nfhostel.com
The snow finally is starting to melt and post-holing and mud is on the agenda now. Although Camas Road already makes for an early season bike ride!
John Frederick Memorial
We are celebrating John’s life here at the North Fork Hostel coming May 19, 2018 at 1 PM.
Everybody is welcome. We will tell John stories and share memories, there will also be music and mementoes.
Bring a chair, lounger or hammock. Don’t forget an umbrella if it rains.
We will have a BBQ after we’re done with the remembering. Bring a side or dessert if you want to stick around for it.
Please join us!
Winter views from Demers Ridge
Glorious Day, near perfect conditions, enjoyable every which way you look.