Whitefish Range challenge accepted

I thoroughly enjoyed the letter last week from fellow North Forker Frank Vitale. I consider him as well as the North Fork Preservation Association a “moderate” environmentalist.

Since there seems to be some confusion about the definition of moderate, let me refer you to the dictionary. The No. 1 definition is “within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme.” The No. 2 definition is “not violent; mild,” That’s exactly how I view the NFPA and how I view its long-time member and vice president Frank Vitale.

I don’t think that moderates always agree. Very often the facts can be interpreted differently by intelligent and equally well meaning individuals. Frank supports a wilderness on the Whitefish Divide — I don’t. Frank challenges me and others to discuss this issue atop Mount Thompson-Seton. Each side is to list 10 reasons why we should or should not have wilderness in the Whitefish Range. Frank will provide transportation to and from.

If Frank is willing to take this old fat guy to Mount Thompson-Seton and, most importantly, back out, I accept. I suspect there is much that he and I will agree on even if we don’t agree about the specifics of a wilderness. I hope others will join us.

In the meantime, summer is coming to an end. Contrary to earlier rumor, the Northern Lights Saloon will not close on Aug. 30. They will remain open through Saturday, Sept. 15. Last pizza night will be Friday, Sept. 14. The Polebridge Mercantile will remain open with a full selection of their famous baked goodies.

Already, some summer residents have gone and others are preparing to leave. As a result, the hectic social schedule is slowing down, although church services will continue each week through Sept. 30. The North Fork Landowners Association’s schedule also calls for a movie night at Sondreson Hall on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. The movie will be the documentary “Chasing Ice,” hosted by Flannery Coates.

Also, there is a game night at Sondreson Hall on Sept. 8 from 8 to 10 p.m. hosted by Tom Edwards and Karen McDonough and a final meeting of the Backwoods Booklovers at the hall on Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The book to be discussed is “The Good Earth,” by Pearl Buck, hosted by Bonny Ogle.

In addition, September is the month for year-rounders to finish filling the woodshed, harvesting the garden and canning fruit and vegetables, not to mention preparing for hunting season.

Finally, although the North Fork Road is better than ever from Camas junction to Whale Creek, it’s as dusty and as bad as ever from Canyon Creek to Camas Junction and from Whale Creek to the Canadian Border.