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MPA Activity ReportSchafer Meadows Activity Report (July, 2000, reported by John Anderson, Photos by Bob Hollister) 
Bob banks the Skylane into a rectangular descent around the airfield to check the wind and traffic while losing altitude preparing to land. We are flying into Schafer Meadows (Schafer USFS, 8U2) for the year 2000 annual work session. Trying to be the type of passenger I prefer when I'm the pilot I tell him over the intercom "I'll shut up and let you fly, Bob". I check to make sure I'm clear of the controls and sit back to let him focus on the critical approach and landing. I can see at least 25 to 30 planes have already arrived and are parked on the edges of runway two-five. A few people have been here over a week, while the rest arrived last night or this morning.It's about 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 15 and MPA President Bob Hollister and I are flying into Schafer to participate as volunteer workers. We will help replace the windsocks, fill runway gopher holes, fix campground trails, repair the rail fence and anything else that might need to be done to maintain the safety of the airstrip. Volunteers are from the State of Montana Aeronautics Division, Montana Pilots' Association and non-affiliated pilots and friends. The United States Forest Service (USFS) staff stationed adjacent to the strip is providing many tools as well as advice on proper wilderness maintenance procedures. The Schafer USFS airstrip is situated in the Great Bear/Bob Marshall Wilderness and is one of the few wilderness areas, or perhaps the one, that allows anything motorized. In this case only airplanes and they must be inside the airstrip fence. The legislation that created the Great Bear/Bob Marshall allowed for the continued use of the Schafer airstrip while closing several other backcountry strips in the Great Bear/Bob Marshall Wilderness. My knowledge of this areas history is rather limited but maybe one of our members with greater knowledge of the Great Bear/Bob Marshall could in fill us in with details and/or correct me? As the Skylane descends below the surrounding peaks the turbulence starts beating us around a little more. Bob turns the Skylane into a left downwind focusing on the approach to runway two-five. Two-five is the recommended direction for all takeoffs and landings because it would be very difficult to out-climb the terrain going around  or departing runway seven. I'm glad that I get to see the critical approach and landing procedure for the first time as a passenger rather than as the pilot and recommend other pilots try for the same opportunity. As Bob turns final he keeps the airspeed a little above normal because of the bumps and then slips the plane down short final to a nice landing.We've arrived a little late and see volunteers already hard at work on the strip as we back taxi the relatively smooth turf of two-five. I get out to scout the side of the runway for safe parking and Bob taxis into our camp spot for the night. We then wander over to say our hellos and find out what needs doing. Debbie Alke of Montana Aeronautics points us to the tool shed so Bob and I retrieve a shovel, tamper and wheel barrow for filling gopher holes in the strip. We find a few holes on the upper end, mostly off to the side, and work the short time until lunch filling them. After a break for some airplane stories and a couple hot dogs we finish the far end of the airstrip that afternoon. I'm not even going to attempt to give all the hard workers credit by name. I doubt anyone is there for personal recognition but rather attend for the greater good of keeping the Schafer airstrip safe for another year. That's not to say that many of volunteers don't deserve recognition for the hard work, money and time they put in above and beyond the simple jobs that most of us did. It's just that I'm a poor reporter and didn't write down their names. It was a great day and I was nicely surprised by how quiet it was. Everyone was spread out to different areas to fill and repair the camp trail, strip bark, hang fence rails, trim brush and fill holes. The U.S. Forest Service staff provided a mule and a pack horse to haul the gravel for the trail repair. Sorry, but I also forgot the names of the mule and pack horse. They worked as hard as us and did receive a just reward when one of our younger helpers treated them to the corn husks from that part of our evening meal.  Bob and I didn't work hard enough to deserve it, but all of us volunteers were treated to a great evening meal of lobster and corn on the cob. Roughing it in the backcountry of Montana is a hard job. Our camp cook kept the crew well organized in the meal preparation and was not a bit afraid to point a slacker like me to an unattended task. Thank you and the food provider for the great meal. Everything had to be flown in and the not so nice aftermath had to be flown back out the next day. If you decide to visit this special place remember that whatever you fly in you must fly back out. Don't over pack. The surrounding mountains have proven to be very hard.Sunday morning, July 16 we awoke to a shiny layer of frost on our tents and airplanes. The clear, calm night had provided impressive convective cooling. Actually, many of us had been awake for several hours shivering in our light summer sleeping bags. The first cup of coffee was precious. Before long the sun peeked over the mountain defrosting the wings and drying the tents. It warmed up quickly and I soon shucked my jacket. The pilots with heavy loads and lower powered planes hustled breaking camp trying to get loaded and airborne before the density altitude rose enough with the rising temps to hamper performance. As the rest of us broke camp we stopped our work to watch the takeoff and departure of each airplane. Good judgement by all the pilots made the departures uneventful. By the time Bob and I departed around 10:45 a.m. the morning frost had been displaced by warm summer air but the lightly loaded Skylane still climbed out with authority. Our overnight stay was much too brief a visit. I envied our Glasgow friends who had already been there for over a week and were staying longer. They had planned a nice wilderness hike for later in the afternoon and would have several more days of such before returning to the flat lands. I'll be back for sure.  The U.S.F.S. staff deserves a special thank you. They have the tough job of dealing professionally with many types of Wilderness Area users and each user has his/her own perspective of a Wilderness Area and how it should be best utilized. Their sincere and professional attitude makes Montana a better place to live. Thank you Deb Manley, Al Koss and the rest of Great Bear/Bob Marshall Wilderness U.S. Forest Service staff for making the Montana backcountry a better place for us all. Reported by John Anderson, Havre Photos by Bob Hollister, Forsyth |
