BLM THANKS UTAH BACK COUNTRY PILOT VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers from Utah Back Country Pilots, (UBCP) recently made the effort to fly in to Ibex-Tule Valley Hardpan dry lake bed after learning that visitors had left a mess. The area is popular for primitive camping and is accessible by car. The volunteer pilots spent two days refurbishing the area, and removed two old vehicle tires and six pounds of nails from burned pallets.

The field is on BLM land, and their action resulted in a BLM Facebook post expressing appreciation. The acknowledgment also appeared in the February 26 online Gephardt Daily News. Headlined, “Utah Citizen stewardship in action!”, the BLM message continues, “Recently, members of the Utah Back Country Pilots performed clean up and maintenance work at the Tule Valley Hardpan site. We are eternally grateful to those who practice #LeaveNoTrace principles so everyone can enjoy their #publiclands!”

Wendy Lessig, RAF Utah Liaison and UBCP Board member said, “Many thanks to the stewardship by these Utah pilot volunteers, and all who chip in to maintain and preserve our treasured backcountry airstrips. Every bit helps!” The UBCP mission includes a strong emphasis on Leave No Trace ethics and they organize volunteer work parties throughout Utah’s backcountry airstrips.

Ibex is located just west of Sevier Dry Lake and is one of the three backcountry airstrips included in the State’s “FLY UTAH Passport Program”. UBCP customarily holds a fly-in late April. For more information on IBEX and a safety briefing, see UBCP’s website here.

Submitted March 11, 2025.
By Carmine Mowbray

Posted in News

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RAF AWARDS GRANT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HCRC

February 24, 2026

Oregon RAF Liaison Bill Ables has been awarded a $5,000 RAF grant to retain RAF membership in and support the Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative (HCRC) for the next five years. The HCRC was organized in 2016 at the request of Idaho’s Congressional Delegation as a framework for the various recreational user groups to collaborate with the US Forest Service within the 652,488-acre Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Ables, a past Director and current member of the group, explained that HCRC membership is a cross-section of user groups from both the private and commercial sectors, including river rafters and jet boaters, backpackers, horse packers, aviators, and governmental management agencies. Providing ongoing support ensures continued aviation representation. The rugged Snake River canyon region hugs the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho, and includes nine backcountry airstrips within the Recreational Area. All are maintained by volunteer aviation groups in collaboration with the USFS: Cache Creek, Salmon Bar, Dug Bar, Temperance Creek, Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Lord Flat, Memaloose, and Big Bar. “Our support of HCRC, combined with the other involved aviation groups, ensures ongoing maintenance and improvements at each of these nine airstrips. It benefits general aviation by preserving access to enjoy the beauty of the Hells Canyon area, which directly speaks to the Mission of the RAF,” Ables said. For more information on Dug Bar, Cache Creek, Big Bar, and Memaloose, see the Airfield Guide . Pittsburg Landing, Sluice Creek, Temperance Creek, and Salmon Bar are not listed in the Airfield Guide at this time. Submitted February 24, 2026