Remember When?

105 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 17, 1916

AT THE HUNTERES’ CABIN

The Cakes are Good But the

Hunting is Rotten

Ten Men to Get One Deer

The official opening of the hunters’ cabin at the junction of Thompson River and Deerhorn Creek occurred last Saturday when “Slim” McNair and Frank Woodard arrived with a brand-new stove and an insatiable ambition for deer. Saturday H.O. Bond, W.T. Utz, H.C. Austin and H.A. White footed it up the trail and joined the gang around the supper table. Sunday “Doc” Miller resigned the drug store to “Skeeter” and arrived to get the deer he wounded last year, and on Monday Ed Fitzgerald, Tom Smith and John Tracy came with a couple of pack horses laden with grub. Mr. Tracy immediately took charge of the cook stove and evolved some feeds that kept the boys hanging around the cabin whenever mealtime drew near.

But up to Wednesday the only successful attacks of the hunters were made on the grub pile. Mr. Bond saw a deer that looked like a voter and went after him with such vigor that the camp had “evidence” for supper, but no one else has been successful yet. There is no snow on the lower levels and the absence of it keeps most of the deer far back in the hills and prevents the hunters from sneaking up on those that are down low.

Though there are no deer killed during the day, the slaughter at night is fearful. With ten men in the cabin and each spurring the others on, the tales that are told make the Arabian Nights look as matter-of-fact and commonplace as a market report.

Aside from the stories and the hot cakes that Mr. Tracy deals out every morning and the spirited debates over the recent political campaign, the most exciting event of the first part of the week was staged by “Slim.” He ambled off in the morning toward the Little Thompson country and lost his way. When nightfall arrived without him, the hunters in the cabin became a bit apprehensive and fired signals and yelled in the hope of assisting him. About eight-thirty a response to the signals came and a few minutes later “Slim” walked in with his pants frozen from a wade through the river and his picturesque language greatly enlivened by the brisk mountain air. His story took the place of the usual reminiscences.

30 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 14, 1991

FLAT IRON RAMP TO GET MAJOR FACELIFT

One of the more popular boat launching facilities in Sanders County is scheduled for a major facelift next spring.

State Representative Jim Elliott of Trout Creek noted that the Flat Iron Fishing Access site, located three miles west of Thompson Falls along the Clark Fork River is slated for $120,000 in improvements, a project that should bring it to standards equal to some of the finest facilities in the state.

Elliott said the site was reviewed by the head of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Director K.L. Cool, who helped organize funding for the project.

“The project has the highest priority in the region for upgrading a fishing access site,” explained Elliott.

The project would be funded by funds other than general fund monies, explained Elliott, with the bulk of the development funds coming from Wallop-Breaux Funds, a federal program that collects funds on the sale of fishing gear. Senators Wallop and Breaux of Wyoming and Kansas, respectively, were the congressmen responsible for the legislation. Also adding to the project are funds from the collection of a motor fuel tax on sales to boaters.

Elliott said the project should be started April 18 and should be completed in time for the summer recreation season.

A major element of the project and one that should correct a deficiency in the existing facility, is a 36-foot culvert that will direct water into the boat launch area and hopefully keep sediments from building up. In the past, because of the shoreline topography which includes a small jetty along the river side of the facility, sediments have eddied into the cove and were deposited on the boat launch ramp. The two-foot diameter culvert should provide sufficient flow to keep the area clean of sediments and floating debris.

Other major elements of the redesigned facility include new 20 foot long planks for the boat launch ramp, a day use area, a handicapped area for parking and movement to a fishing facility, a new parking lot and a revised access plan.

The plan calls for closing of the existing entrance road and diverting traffic to a common entrance/exit approximately one-half mile farther downstream.

There, a new entrance with parking area and a turnaround will be constructed which allows for better access and exit from the facility.

Elliott said in addition to the entrance, the roads within the facility will be rebuilt to accommodate the expected increase in use. Numerous residents in Sanders County have commented on the need for an improved facility at the site.