I've started working on a masters degree in anthropology here in Idaho and thought I'd ask the resident experts for input.

I would like to research the history of a USFS strip; find out when it was constructed, what the original purpose was, if there was a ranger station associated with it, types of aircraft that have used the strip, who still uses the strip today (that should be easy ), what does the strip say about FS fire policy, etc. I might broaden the scope to include multiple strips if I find a particular fire season that saw heavy use of the strips. I would love to research a strip that was used by Tri-motors and DC-3s since part of my research would benefit from having something heavy landing on the strip.

Off the top of my head I was thinking about Moose Creek, Shearer, Fish Lake, Cayuse Creek, and maybe Priest Lake. Airstrips in Montana are also an option but some of the grants I was looking at applying for might consider MT to be out of their scope.

Any ideas?

Sulpher Creek has quite a history too. And now is land locked by BLM? and USFS land.

There weren't too many strips that could handle a DC-3, so that ought to narrow it down to several good ones from which to choose. It was my understanding that the Ford Trimotors and DC-3s were primarily used to drop smokejumpers or fire retardant, usually flying out of Grangeville or McCall. In the late '40s through the 50's they got some use as a transport for people and materials to and from the bigger strips which serviced some of the big FS camps out in remote places.

Moose Creek and Chamberlain Basin both had huge airstrips (both around 4100 ft. long) put in by the USFS to bring in big airplanes. Both have ranger stations, and both are now inside of wilderness areas. I talked to a guy named Frank Loomis that had the job of cutting up the D6 cat at Chamberlain and using a mule train to pack it out in pieces! There has definitely been a change in priorities over the years.

Stibnite is interesting due to its strategic importance during WWII supplying most of the nation's tungsten and antimony. Some good info about the strip at Stibnite in this fascinating story:
http://www.ruralnetwork.net/~yptimes/page11.html
I was told that Ray Arnold still flies out there on a regular schedule to pick up the gold that they are currently mining.

Big Creek is another relatively long strip (3500 ft.) that was lengthened to bring in bigger planes. Here's a picture of my Dad standing near the end of the airstrip in 1941 before it was lengthened.
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery/albums/userpics/12351/normal_Paul_1941.jpg

In addition to those that have already been mentioned, Landmark, Indian Creek, and Bruce Meadows are also really long strips.

It sounds like a fun project. Enjoy your research, and be sure to post any interesting stories or photos that you uncover!

For starters, your alma mater has an airstrip on Big Creek, and the heads of your department have spent a lot of time/projects back there (I've been on a couple of Sheepeater digs close to the ranch). Taylor Ranch has a few nice photographs on-site of the strip from the 40's, complete with Tiger Moths, Jennies, Travelairs, etc. Perhaps you could mooch a trip in to "curate" them or whatever. There are also pictures in your library collections on campus in Moscow that show Jess Taylor with a horse team and fresno enlarging the Rush Creek end of the strip. The fresnos were still in the alder growth not too many years ago. There are also pictures of gabians being constructed to shore it up. I also remember seeing pics of Cougar Dave Lewis with either a T-craft or a Piper covered with pelts from the Taylor strip.

I could also look up a friend in the Missoula area I used to know who was a pilot for Bob Johnson for a time, flying Tri-motors and Travelairs (but not the DC-3's). If he is still alive, you might be interested; he might have moved to Palm Springs are passed away, however. There are some bits with him in "Fly The Biggest Piece Back" book, and a couple other books of the area. You might also look up the Bill Doris clan (McCall), and the Adairs (of Red Adair), and Ray Arnold of course would be a good place to start. There are also some good YouTube snippets of smoke jumpers hitting the silk over Moose and a few others back in the day.

Another resource might be a friend living in Hamilton who is still around whose dad ran the Bitterroot forest back in the 40's and who was incidentally involved with the push to build some of the strips.

You would probably also learn quite a bit in McCall and Missoula...they have quite a collection of aviation-oriented items (or at least used to have).

Finally, there are a number of FAA publications in the government collections at your campus and Bozeman's gov't repository in the campus library with some articles about the back country aviation there (heck, I'm even in several of them from when I was a kid working at Taylor).

Good luck!

I have been in and out of Moose Creek in Tri-motors, DC-3's and the DC-2 flying for Johnson Flying Service. A few of the old time Forest Service and Johnson Flying Service personal are still around and would be glad to spend some time with you, if I can remember where they are and they can remember who they are PM me and I will give you some contact information. There are some very colorful people still around that are fun to get together with, but everybody seems to be leaving at an increasing rate.

Swindler

Went to a Moscow Id. graduation this spring. Long drive from the central best coast.

You might try to get Larry Kingsbury (?) at the McCall main headquarters to run you a copy of the (Aviation History Of The Central Idaho Wilderness)- pamphlet. 82 pgs.

The small Forrest Service public / tourist building also has several stories available. They often have to print them for you while you wait. The building is on the left as you drive out of McCall towards New Meadows and before Lardos.

I wish I could remember all the history lessons I got on flights Jim Larkin. I do know he has put DC-3s into Big Creek and elsewhere. I know Lori at McCall Mountain/Canyon flying knows a lot of Jim Larkin stories she might share for a college student. Lori can possibly put you in touch with several others that were directly involved with the saving of Cabin Creek and Wilson Bar.

You might want to see if Lucy Pickle is still alive. She used to stay the summers in Warren, and her house was/is full of old aviation pictures. She used to like folks to stop in and chat.

One of the stories of Sulphur Creek is that they used DC-3s to ferry soldiers in for R&R in the overhead cribs.

Some of the history is in the Fly Idaho book.

Best to ya

Chris C