The Recreational Aviation Foundation has awarded a grant toward reconstruction and repairs at the US Forest Service Black Bear Cabin on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska.
The fly-in cabin is 50 air miles west-northwest of Ketchikan and provides hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing opportunities within Tongass National Forest.
Due to limited Forest Service resources, the cabin had fallen victim to deferred maintenance, noted Alaska Liaison Jeff DeFreest and his wife, RAF Ambassador Kari DeFreest.
“This is a unique remote recreational experience with pristine solitude in an above-timberline mountainous setting,” added RAF Alaska/Michigan Ambassador Rob Aho.
This grant will enable another cooperative project with the USFS, according to Aho.
“This is an opportunity for the RAF to further develop our partnership with the USFS, following the successful work completed at Heckman Lake,” he said. “The resounding success from that partnership will continue and will hopefully lead to future projects.”
Crews will repair the front porch, outhouse, chimney system, entryway, and rear window. They will brush out around the cabin and stairs, install an RAF fire ring and a fire extinguisher. If time permits, they will reconstruct trails using lakeshore on-site gravel and repurposed lumber from demolition work, and repair the existing skiff haul out winch, according to RAF officials.
USFS Cabin and Trail Manager Devan Collier will oversee the work, while RAF volunteers will remain on site throughout the multi-day project, RAF officials noted
For more information: TheRAF.org
