“Sometimes driving in is the only way to get a field ready for use,” he said. Getting to the strip was every bit as difficult as Lumgair had expected, but it didn’t deter pilot and RAF Oregon Ambassador Kevin Johnson, who drove nine hours each way to help and install the windsock structure he’d built and brought with him. The road to the airstrip is a rutted and steep Jeep trail between the dirt Walker Ridge Road and the staging/camping area, challenging each four-wheel-drive vehicle. The final mile from the staging area to the airstrip was so narrow that a crew had to walk ahead of the trucks, clearing it so vehicles could pass.
REHAB WORK BEGINS ON CALIFORNIA'S WALKER RIDGE AIRSTRIP
RAF California Liaison Doug Lumgair received approval from the BLM to begin rehabilitating Walker Ridge airstrip located within the Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California, and his request for the first work party was abundantly answered in spite of the challenges of driving to the site. It was what he called “an incredible experience,” with every single volunteer a “true rockstar.”
Volunteers brought two skid-steers, a dump trailer, and a Polaris Ranger, all vital to the success of the weekend project, especially cutting and removing the “mountains of brush.” The work had to be done with hand tools and chainsaws; skid-steers were used to haul brush to a BLM-approved area.
On Sunday morning, the crew removed the remaining brush and some of the hazardous rocks from the landing area. There are additional rock outcroppings that still need to be broken down, and more brush work needs to be done to increase wing tip clearance. The next work party is planned for December 6 & 7, with a weather alternate date of December 13 & 14.
“I am deeply thankful and impressed by every volunteer who brought their equipment, expertise, enthusiasm, and incredible work ethic,” Lumgair said, adding, “The camaraderie throughout the weekend was a joy— we instantly formed a great team and worked together like old friends.”
A pilot briefing and more details about Walker Ridge will be added to the Airfield Guide in the future.
Doug is looking for additional volunteers to help at the December 6th and 7th work party. There will be a limited number of aircraft parking spots, and also, volunteers will be driving in and car camping. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact him at dlumgair@theraf.org.
Submitted November 24, 2025.
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“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
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.
Call To Action Volunteer
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 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.
