Alberton, MT information needed (Missoula, Kalispell: homes, buying, living in)

[igloo]

Anyone out there familiar with the small town of Alberton? We are looking at a large log home on 20 wooded acres supposedly in an area with upscale homes. Any information on long and dreary or decent winters, crime, friendly/unfriendly locals toward newcomers or anything else that would help us would be appreciated.

[bigtrees]

Alberton is 30 miles outside of Missoula, so anything you read about Missoula will probably apply to Alberton. In fact, you're likely to go to Missoula a lot because I don't think there is much in Alberton.

I'd suggest doing a search and reading up on the posts about Missoula and surrounding areas. There's a bunch there already and they have talked a lot about weather, crime, and attitudes to newcomers.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by igloo

Anyone out there familiar with the small town of Alberton? We are looking at a large log home on 20 wooded acres supposedly in an area with upscale homes. Any information on long and dreary or decent winters, crime, friendly/unfriendly locals toward newcomers or anything else that would help us would be appreciated.

I get the feeling you're expecting way more town than you'll find when you get there.

I remember Alberton as just a wide spot next to the Interstate -- not much town at all. Official population listed as 374. I don't know its history specifically, but most small towns up in that area are relics of the timber industry.

Be careful with heavily wooded areas -- that is the heart of the wildfire area, and if trees have been allowed to grow thickly (as is too often the case when it has neither burned nor been logged in recent years), sooner or later it WILL burn, and there will be no saving any homes in its path. First thing I'd do, if I were a homeowner in that area, is contract with a good reliable timber company to harvest all the weak, sick, dying, or too-crowded trees, to get the growth down to healthy levels (which a fire will rip thru fast but won't damage much).

This story Big Burn of 1910 should be required reading for anyone who wants to buy or build a home in the forest. Remember that the "fire department" in those rural areas is usually volunteer (you pay an annual fee to be covered) but their best efforts won't make a dent in a wildfire's path.

As to winter -- yes, I'd call it long and dreary. I've seen snow on the Interstate in late May, sufficient that with snowplows running full out, traffic was still reduced to a single lane in each direction. Not that this stops any Montana native from going where they plan to, but it can be rather a shock if you're not accustomed to it.

Nearest town of any size is Missoula, and there are some pretty good recent threads on that area, just do a search and they'll come up.

[igloo]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I get the feeling you're expecting way more town than you'll find when you get there.

I remember Alberton as just a wide spot next to the Interstate -- not much town at all. Official population listed as 374. I don't know its history specifically, but most small towns up in that area are relics of the timber industry.

Be careful with heavily wooded areas -- that is the heart of the wildfire area, and if trees have been allowed to grow thickly (as is too often the case when it has neither burned nor been logged in recent years), sooner or later it WILL burn, and there will be no saving any homes in its path. First thing I'd do, if I were a homeowner in that area, is contract with a good reliable timber company to harvest all the weak, sick, dying, or too-crowded trees, to get the growth down to healthy levels (which a fire will rip thru fast but won't damage much).

This story Big Burn of 1910 should be required reading for anyone who wants to buy or build a home in the forest. Remember that the "fire department" in those rural areas is usually volunteer (you pay an annual fee to be covered) but their best efforts won't make a dent in a wildfire's path.

As to winter -- yes, I'd call it long and dreary. I've seen snow on the Interstate in late May, sufficient that with snowplows running full out, traffic was still reduced to a single lane in each direction. Not that this stops any Montana native from going where they plan to, but it can be rather a shock if you're not accustomed to it.

Nearest town of any size is Missoula, and there are some pretty good recent threads on that area, just do a search and they'll come up.

Thanks for the information and the warning on fires. After living in NW Alaska for 6 winters, I'm used to long and dreary winters so perhaps Alberton will be moved further down on my relocation list. I was hoping by being 30 miles from Missoula that PERHAPS the weather in the Alberton area would be somewhat better than Missoula's.

[rickers]

The best weather and most sunshine in western Montana will be found on or near the Flathead reservation about halfway between Missoula and Kalispell. Especially along the west side of the rez. it's often sunny when surrounding areas are socked in with snow or rain.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by igloo

Thanks for the information and the warning on fires. After living in NW Alaska for 6 winters, I'm used to long and dreary winters so perhaps Alberton will be moved further down on my relocation list. I was hoping by being 30 miles from Missoula that PERHAPS the weather in the Alberton area would be somewhat better than Missoula's.

I wondered about the "igloo" handle Where exactly are you? NW Alaska covers a lot of ground, tho mostly a lot of the middle of nowhere, so maybe you won't find Alberton all that small after all

My sister lived in Anchorage for 3 years, and found it dreary compared to MT (she said "the next place I live is gonna have a BEACH!")

My impression is that Alberton is in the same climate pattern as Missoula -- same cloud cover and big snows that you get in all those mountain valleys. Um... think just inshore from Anchorage and you're probably pretty close. By contrast, east of the divide would be more like Fairbanks -- much colder, but less snow, and you get to see the sun fairly often in winter.

As a good general rule all over the mountain west, if there are tall-timber pines, there will be lots of snow and cloud cover in winter. When all you see are the shorter or twisty types of pines, the climate is drier, ie. less clouds/less snow.

[igloo]

Originally Posted by rickers

The best weather and most sunshine in western Montana will be found on or near the Flathead reservation about halfway between Missoula and Kalispell. Especially along the west side of the rez. it's often sunny when surrounding areas are socked in with snow or rain.

RICKERS: Thanks for the information. I can look at my atlas and see areas west of the Rez, but do you have any recommendations on towns/cities that would be really better to check out for property. Thanks.

[igloo]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I wondered about the "igloo" handle Where exactly are you? NW Alaska covers a lot of ground, tho mostly a lot of the middle of nowhere, so maybe you won't find Alberton all that small after all

My sister lived in Anchorage for 3 years, and found it dreary compared to MT (she said "the next place I live is gonna have a BEACH!")

My impression is that Alberton is in the same climate pattern as Missoula -- same cloud cover and big snows that you get in all those mountain valleys. Um... think just inshore from Anchorage and you're probably pretty close. By contrast, east of the divide would be more like Fairbanks -- much colder, but less snow, and you get to see the sun fairly often in winter.

As a good general rule all over the mountain west, if there are tall-timber pines, there will be lots of snow and cloud cover in winter. When all you see are the shorter or twisty types of pines, the climate is drier, ie. less clouds/less snow.

We lived up in the Nome area of Alaska (bush country as it is known) so we have seen the type of bad weather that Missoula is apparently known for in the winter time.

[rickers]

If you can get a decent deal on 20 acres near Alberton, I would go for it. Alberton is an easy commute to Missoula and the weather is the same as Missoula. In my opinion the dreariness of the Missoula winters here on this board are a little bit exaggerated especially when compared to Seattle's dreariness ! Many people move from Seattle to the Missoula area to escape dreary overcast winters.
The Clark Fork River is right there and there are a set of rapids that folks run in rafts and kayaks. I think that stretch has the wildest white water on the entire river. It's called The Alberton Gorge. Another thing that many on this board say over and over again that I think is a bit overblown is all the talk about locals not accepting folks from other states. Much of that kind of that kind of talk is full on Baloney ! I would definitely visit the area before buying though and especially inspect the property before buying it. Is that property by any chance up Petty Creek ? I would love to live up there, it's really nice but I don't remember any high end homes up there. I guess there must be a newer development near Alberton that I haven't noticed yet. The stretch between Alberton and Missoula is slowly being developed.

[igloo]

Originally Posted by rickers

If you can get a decent deal on 20 acres near Alberton, I would go for it. Alberton is an easy commute to Missoula and the weather is the same as Missoula. In my opinion the dreariness of the Missoula winters here on this board are a little bit exaggerated especially when compared to Seattle's dreariness ! Many people move from Seattle to the Missoula area to escape dreary overcast winters.
The Clark Fork River is right there and there are a set of rapids that folks run in rafts and kayaks. I think that stretch has the wildest white water on the entire river. It's called The Alberton Gorge. Another thing that many on this board say over and over again that I think is a bit overblown is all the talk about locals not accepting folks from other states. Much of that kind of that kind of talk is full on Baloney ! I would definitely visit the area before buying though and especially inspect the property before buying it. Is that property by any chance up Petty Creek ? I would love to live up there, it's really nice but I don't remember any high end homes up there. I guess there must be a newer development near Alberton that I haven't noticed yet. The stretch between Alberton and Missoula is slowly being developed.

Well, if the winters don't last more than 6 months, and also not as dreary as people indicate on some of the posts, then we could handle it. As far as Petty Creek, it actually runs through this particular property. Per the advertisement, the surrounding homes are all upscale - for what that's worth.
While still keeping Alberton in mind, do you still have any recommendations on towns/cities that would be good to check out for property on the western side of the Rez? Thanks.