North Fork Retreats Guide

You can rent kayaks, SUPs, or inflatable rafts from Polebridge Outfitters online at https://polebridgemerc.com/outiftters/. Other options are Glacier Raft in West Glacier or Glacier Guides. Call them for more info. You can raft the North Fork River or kayak, SUP Bowman or Kintla Lakes. If you plan on going to Bowman or Kintla, you have to get your watercraft inspected before entering the park.

The North Fork Road is in terrible condition. Prepare for a rough drive. Drive a 4x4 if possible. The road gets better after the Camas Road, but the first half is bad.

• Headlamps • Ice – we have provided a cooler, but you must bring the ice • Drinking water • Warm clothes for night • Slippers for inside the yurt • The usual stuff: food, coffee (French press provided), clothes, toiletries, more bear spray, camera, games, sunscreen…. • Download any maps or trail info that you need before coming as there is no cell phone service. Download the code so you can get into the yurt!

The yurt decking can be dangerous. Watch your kids outside of the yurt on the deck. Don't let your kids out of sight due to wild animals.

• There are two exceptional lakes accessible from the Polebridge entrance: Kintla and Bowman. You must get to the entrance early, before 8 am to be safe. Our beloved part of the park is getting insanely busy, so you must be prepared for an alternative trip if the rangers won’t let you in. • You can kayak, swim, camp and picnic at Bowman and Kintla. There are also great hikes accessed by Bowman Lake. Kintla only has access to one hiking trail on its shores which is beautiful. Our personal favorite is Bowman, which is a quicker drive. Our favorite hikes are Numa Ridge Lookout and Quartz Lake.

Flathead National Forest is on the opposite side of Glacier. It has access to amazing hikes. There are significantly less people, so you may not see anyone else on the trail. Be loud while hiking because the chances are you will see a bear. Bring bear spray. There is also great mountain biking in this Forest. Let me know if you need additional info for biking.

- Cyclone Lookout - Hornet Lookout - Nasukoin, Link Lake and Chain of Lakes - Glacier View *details on how to access and what hikes are like in notes sent to you.

The closest grocery store is Super One or Smiths in Columbia Falls. We recommend Super One if organic selection is important to you. Costco is in Kalispell. Stock up on everything you need because there is no grocery store within an hour of the Yurt. Buy gallons of water here. There is charcoal at the yurt if you are planning on grilling.

• The North Fork is considered grizzly country. Store all food when not in use in either a cooler outside of the yurt or in one of the pantries. Clean up after each meal and store all overflowing trash in the cabin on the property. • If you move the grill up to the deck, we recommend moving it before you go to sleep at least 200 feet away from the yurt. It will probably be OK on the yurt deck for your stay, but strong meat smells could attract bears. - Don't let your kids out of sight at dusk or dawn or in the night.

Unless you have received written permission from me, you cannot use the wood stove. You won't want to anyway with these hot days. It does dip into the 50s or lower at night, so make sure and bring warm clothes!

You are NOT ALLOWED to have a fire on the property. If it is evident, there was a fire on the property, we will take appropriate recourse. You are NOT ALLOWED to smoke on the property! If you must smoke, do it in your car or on the North Fork Road. Cigarettes have started countless wildfires. If you start a fire, you are responsible for the damages, which can exceed millions of dollars. Please do not be that guy/girl.

Wildfires are a known nuisance in the West. Views of Glacier are hard to find when we are in bad fire season. Views from the yurt are therefore not guaranteed. Please be vigilant while at the yurt. If it begins to rain ash, drive to the Mercantile and see if there is an evacuation order. Be smart and safe.

• The kitchen sink has 8 gallons in it. If you need more than 8 gallons, you can take the sink with you (it is very light) and drive a 1/4 mile north to red meadow creek and refill the sink there. The water provided is potable, but the water from red meadow creek will need to be filtered if you want to drink it. • There is a solar shower provided. If you want to use it, fill it up with water and leave it out during the day so it will heat up. When you get home, it should be warm enough for a nice but quick shower. Only use biodegradable soap if you use this. - Brush teeth over kitchen sink!

There is no cell phone service. There is no running water and no power. You must be self sufficient to rent this yurt. If you need help, you will have to call me after driving to West Glacier or Columbia Falls. Bathroom situation: There is an outhouse; please do not pee and poop anywhere else but the outhouse. Do not throw trash in the outhouse.