Only 3 more months of winter...NO!!!

Where did winter go already??!! Here we are in March and the first 5 months of winter here in the Centennial Valley has flown by. We've had more normal to above normal snowfall this year and it is spectacular. With a summer of amazing wildflowers sure to come! The County plowed the road twice in December and a final time on January 2nd, informing us they would not plow again Spring. Due to the amount of snow we've received, it was becoming a challenge for them to keep the road clear. All of the Valley residents left a vehicle parked at the Interstate (Exit 0 at the Montana, Idaho border, also called Monida) in December so once we got out, we could get supplies. It's about 28 miles away or a 2 hour one way ride in our snow machine or our Polaris Ranger with tracks. It is a thrilling ride and sometimes I would call it nearly an "expedition". VERY deep snow, a challenge to find a safe path since the road is gone and the weather changes quickly from nice to blizzard conditions. We love this life because of the challenges, the beauty and the community. Everyone works together and that is a wonderful thing. The last time I was in town at the beginning of February, I shopped for three of the eight families in the Valley. Today someone else is in town and picking up supplies for us.

Our puppy Tochi is nearly ninth months old and he is really a joy. He has turned into a big ball of fur! He can't wait to go outside and jump into the biggest bank of snow. Wind, blowing snow, absolutely NOTHING stops him from enjoying his life out here. He is going to love riding around the Valley this summer with Shane in the Polaris Ranger doing Mountain Blue Bird observations.

For living in what we call "in the middle of EVERYWHERE" there is so much going on:

• The US Postal Service has decided to end the rural mail route out to our Valley. This is a route that has been in existence for 100+ years, delivering mail year round, three days per week. In the early years, they even delivered by ski-plane in the winter. That delivery method ended in a crash with a snowbank (mail courier unharmed) and the smashed up vehicle is still sitting around at a neighbor's place. Needless to say, a cluster box at the Interstate where most Valley residents would have to drive 60 miles round trip to get the mail is not an imaginable option. The mail is a lifeline to all of us out here, delivering cards, letters, care packages, life-saving medication, food, supplies, weekly newspapers, etc. So the Valley residents have pulled together in a well-organized, opposition campaign.

• The Arctic Grayling residing in the Upper Lake at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge has dwindled to 73 individuals and may be placed on the Endangered Species List. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a draft proposal of plans to implement to help the fish as well as keep it off the Endangered list. The Valley community is very much involved in this effort. There is a long history of this rare (at least in the lower 48) and beautiful fish and the struggle to keep in flourishing. I've added a tab to our website and will post information there soon.

• Scott is kept busy working, snow machining, walking Tochi and lining up people and companies to help us finish up the cabin projects this coming summer: new roof and porch extension, minor kitchen cabinet work in the main cabin and all new kitchen in the guest cabin.

• Shane has additional volunteer responsibilities at the Refuge this winter: weather station information gathering and updates to NOAA, Refuge website updates and other projects in the office to get ready for the upcoming field season. He is gearing up for the Mountain Bluebird Trail project that will begin in late March. Starting this season, he has full responsibility for this project at the Refuge. Shane is also now a board member for the Friends of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge & Centennial Valley and The Centennial Valley Historical Society.

Here are some picture updates from the last few months. The birds will begin stopping in any day now as the spring migration gets underway. To that end, I will begin updating the Birds tab here on the site.

The Red Fox have been around the place and even digging through the deep snow to eat discarded sunflower shells under the bird feeders. A moose on the road in December.

Our fur ball, Tochi.

Deep, deep snow here this winter. 130.5" received and counting!

It's getting hard to see out the windows!

The woodpile is buried, but Scott keeps a hole so he can haul up to the cabin once a week. We load a week's worth through the porch window.

Shane and Scott on snow machines out in the Valley. And out in our Polar Ranger (with the tracks installed for the winter) in January.

Scott picking me up in Monida.

The Refuge dropping off UPS packages in the Tucker.

Crossing paths with the mailman in the Valley.

Scott & Shane at home in the Puzzle Porch.

Moonrise on March 7th.

At least you can find us in the Mall.