RAF IMPROVES CAMPING FACILITIES AT BOWSTRING

RAF Minnesota Liaison Kurt Pennuto reports that the May 31-June 2 Bowstring work party weekend was “a huge success.” Volunteers completed two campsites, one with four tent pads and one with five tent pads. Each site now has an RAF fire ring, a picnic table and is just a short walk to a newly constructed outhouse. They installed a mailbox to hold a sign-in book and RAF information, and capped the work by installing signs at each campsite, “The RAF Supports This Airstrip”. All of the projects were funded by an RAF grant. For details on Bowstring ( 9Y0 ) see the Airfield.Gui de.

“The support from the Bowstring airport commission is a great partnership,” Kurt said, pointing out that five airport board members pitched in to help: Ken Reichert, Greg Miller, Mark Mathisen, Robert Johnson, and Robert Styve.

Minnesota RAF Ambassador Rick Mercil attended, along with other volunteers Scott Moon, Frank Vittorio, Paul Schillo, and John Welna.

“On Sunday four more planes flew in to visit and check out the progress of the work party and marvel at our work,” Kurt said. One was Jason Jenson, a Department of Natural Resources pilot out tracking wolves, and one was RAF member Peter Howell who submitted an article about Bowstring to his RV pilot group.

“Jason Jenson has a keen interest in our mission, and his knowledge and connections within the DNR are valuable to us,” Kurt said. “Jason has given both Rick and me useful insight to the decision making process at the state level. We look for continued partnering with Jason and the state Department of Natural Resources,” he added.

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Submitted on June 11, 2019

Posted in News

ROB KEANE

February 24, 2026

FLORIDA AMBASADOR

HOWIE BOHL

February 24, 2026

CALIFORNIA AMBASSADOR

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