SCHAFER MEADOWS VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE SUMMER WORK; REWARDED WITH PIT-BARBECUED BEEF

The annual work party at Schafer Meadows USFS airstrip in the Great Bear Wilderness occurred July 20. RAF Montana Liaison Scott Newpower reported that about 15 people flew in to help this year. All the while, a 27-pound foil-wrapped beef roast was slow-roasting for eight hours in wood coals in a pit the volunteers dug.

Newpower and RAF supporter Mitch Fontenot flew in a picnic table that volunteers assembled. Workers raked and smoothed dirt mounds caused by animals and filled gopher holes. During last year’s work party, the crew had cut down several hundred small pine trees. This year, the volunteers gathered them in piles to be burned by USFS crews when burning conditions are favorable. Fynnley Dyk and her grandfather TJ Reynolds helped on that project. The outhouse was cleaned, and a small stream was cleared of overgrown grass to help prevent flooding. Both windsocks were also replaced.

“As always, Loren Smith from Great Falls provided the dinner,” Newpower said. The meal was flown in by Pete Smith and Jeff Patnode from Lewistown. “Working the underground oven this year was Pete Smith, Scott Kirsch, Brad Young and Mark Bailer,” Newpower added. 

Schafer Meadows is a popular camping area, and it’s close to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, a popular for rafting and fishing. Due to the Wilderness area and other recreational users, short stops and flight training is discouraged. The ranger station grazes their horses and mules on the runway. When the American flag is down at ranger station livestock is ON the runway.

For more information on Schafer Meadow, see the Airfield Guide.

Submitted July 31, 2024
By Carmine Mowbray