RAF PARTNERS WITH TREAD LIGHTLY ON BACKCOUNTRY ETIQUETTE

A website titled tips for responsible backcountry aviation

During the RAF’s biennial educational conference in Bozeman in May, the RAF debuted its Backcountry Etiquette Team and announced its partnership with Tread Lightly!, the national organization started in 1985 by the US Forest Service to address off-road usage. The organization became a nonprofit in 1990, and since then has garnered hundreds of partners from federal and state agencies, industry leaders such as Jeep, Nissan, Kawasaki, and Firestone, and recreational user groups, too numerous to mention. Like the RAF, all share the goal to preserve recreation access and opportunity by promoting ethics of good stewardship.


“Our intentions align perfectly,” RAF President Bill McGlynn said, adding, “And we are proud to be the vanguard aviation organization included as ‘partner’.” 


Executive Director Matt Gaskins was equally pleased to loop in the RAF, and add the aviation component of recreational access. “I love what you’re doing with your campaign. It’s all about keeping these recreational assets sustainable in the future. The best way is doing our part to minimize our impact,” he said, adding, “We are very excited to help with the commendable mission you have. The industry needs this element.”


While Gaskins’ career path includes mostly corporate finance, he loves to share his passion for sustainable outdoor recreation and teach responsible 4×4 techniques. After working for Rivian in treasury and special projects, he spent time with Rivian Clubs of America, Lexus, and Land Rover as an advisor, consultant, and instructor.


He had an epiphany about two decades ago in the alpine tundra of Colorado where the growing season is short. “When damage is created, even a simple footprint or tire track, it may take decades or centuries to recover. Around Moab, some of the cryptobiotic soils took hundreds of years to develop. Step or drive on them, they are likely to die. Wind, snow, and rain accelerate erosion; more erosion can lead to trail closure.”


Gaskins shared his observations on the explosion of social media. “We’ve gone from a journalism model where media was mostly controlled by a few large corporations to a time where anyone with a smartphone has become a de facto journalist”. He agreed there is a strong “watch me” element driving the speed of dissemination, making it hard to control the narrative. “One strategy we have tried is to work with influencers to help us with our message. Social media rewards things that drive engagement. So if you share content that’s educational and inspiring like – How do I improve my experience while protecting the environment – it’s a winning combination.”


To accomplish this goal, Tread Lightly embarked on a massive education campaign of stewardship projects, signage at trailheads, online and in-person courses. Tread Lightly’s 2023 annual Impact Report states that 641 educational signs were installed at trailheads; and their volunteers removed over 241,000 pounds of trash from public lands that year alone.


One simple example Matt suggested to minimize impact is lowering air pressure in tires prior to off highway use. It spreads the impact and creates less trail or road damage. While aircraft don’t use driving wheels, shifting airstrip cones from side to side every year or so will disperse aircraft tire impact, and conserve the runway surface. See Tread Lightly’s website for much more information.



“We received a lot of great feedback when we announced our new partnership with Tread Lightly, and agree with Matt that education is better than enforcement or regulation,” RAF Backcountry Etiquette Team Chair Lynn Mareth said. “Our team has been working on the new messaging campaign, so watch for new signage,” she added.   


“We are more effective when people of similar values connect. It magnifies our impact. When I listen to new viewpoints, I always learn and find things we can use in our toolkit to become more effective with our message. We definitely are stronger together,” Gaskins added.


By Carmine Mowbray
Posted August 15, 2024

Posted in News

Recent Posts

FINDING PURPOSE IN THE EFFORT

April 9, 2026
“The only people who can change something are the ones who really want to. And not everybody does.” When I read this, it took me back to the early days of the RAF. We saw a troubling trend taking place — the loss of airstrips across the country with no real organized voices to help put the brakes on the decline. And we really wanted to change that. Change demanded new ideas from us. Ideas that we assumed would initially be resisted. This defined our purpose. Good ideas come with the burden of effort and purpose. That separates those with a strong purpose from those without. We wanted to create an organization that would counteract the attrition of backcountry airstrips we saw taking place. We rolled up our sleeves and didn’t look back. Easy to say now that the RAF was lucky, but it was purpose that drove the organization in the early years; that really formed who we are today. A group of people with a purpose who knew we needed more people who thought like we did, and cared; people who took this idea called the RAF and added to it, keeping it unique but effective. We felt that most of the existing business models in the nonprofit space were not what we needed to be, and we pushed forward persistently with our thinking – thinking that required putting our own personal desires aside and pursuing ones that were for a greater good. You joined in. You, too, found purpose in the RAF and now look where we are. Nearly 15,000 of us are making the necessary sacrifices to make our voices heard, to create a better environment for the future of recreational aviation. We have more opportunities today because of you. Each one of us is important to continue the momentum we have gained. To determine what the RAF can do to further our mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. To prioritize the many opportunities coming our way. It is about us, and what we are going to do with the time we have left on this earth. This organization will hopefully give you purpose now and in the future. Most importantly, I really hope it will give you as much sense of accomplishment as it has me. Thank you for what you continue to do. - John McKenna, RAF Chairman Submitted April 15, 2026

RAF OUTFITTER APRIL FEATURED COLLECTION

April 5, 2026
FEATURING: THE RAF DOG COLLECTION MODELED BY JOSIE & MUD Outfit your four-legged co-pilot for every adventure! From airplane rides to backcountry trails, this collection has everything they need to travel in comfort and style. Featuring two new additions—a stainless steel Orvis dog bowl and DawgMuffs—alongside RAF favorites like the collar, leash, and bandana. This collection includes items designed and created by RAF supporters. Shop the Dog Collection here. If you have questions, please email contact@theraf.org or call 406-582-1723. Your RAF Outfitter purchase is greatly appreciated and furthers the mission to preserve, improve, and create airstrips for recreational access. You can support the RAF mission all year by shopping at the RAF Outfitter online store. Products are being added regularly, and items are thoughtfully selected for durability and suitability for pilots, by pilots. We welcome photos of supporters using RAF gear! Please send your images to ewhite@theraf.org , and let us know if we have permission to post them on social media or our website. Submitted April 5, 2026.

KELLI GANT

April 3, 2026
Call To Action Volunteer

TIME TO REVIEW AIRSTRIP SAFETY BRIEFINGS

March 30, 2026
As you're planning your 2026 flying adventures, remember to review safety briefings for the airstrips you plan to visit. The RAF strongly recommends you review safety briefings and print a copy to have in your airplane - it's even required to fly into some airfields, like Ryan Field (2MT1). For those airfields, pilots flying in are required to review the briefing on an annual basis, and now is the perfect time to catch up on any changes to the runway/area that happened throughout the winter. You can find safety briefings on the RAF Airfield Guide . If an airfield in the Airfield Guide has a required briefing, the airfield listing will clearly indicate it and have a tab to view the briefing. Submitted March 30, 2026 Photo By Jim Stevenson

RAF VOLUNTEERS BEGIN TO RESTORE HISTORIC RANGER AIRFIELD HANGAR

March 30, 2026
RAF Texas volunteers and Ranger Airfield Foundation volunteers helped begin restoration of the historic 1928 Ranger Airfield hangar on March 28. “A Wright biplane landed here at the field in 1911, and people have been using it ever since,” Ranger Airfield Foundation Founder Jared Calvert said. He noted that Amelia Earhart landed there in a Pitcairn Auto Gyro. Richard Bach, Pancho Barnes, and General Patton also landed at the field. It’s the oldest continuously used turf field in Texas.