The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) recently awarded a grant to preserve the amenities and increase safety at Avey Field (69S) near Laurier, Washington.
According to RAF Washington State Liaison Dave Whitelaw, the intention behind the grant and volunteer work is to keep the backcountry airstrip open.
He reports that funds from the grant provided for a new windsock, the re-setting of the outhouse on a new vault, and leveling new gravel where ground stabilization was needed.
Each spring, Whitelaw organizes volunteers to trim the airstrip and camping area.
On a recent weekend, four RAF volunteers and an excavator operator contributed two-and-a-half days of work. A new hole was dug for the outhouse vault, which was then set. The group then reset the outhouse building onto the new vault. They also set the new windsock pole and raised the windsock.
R-2 Excavation hauled in five loads of gravel and spread it in the main parking area near the picnic tables to stabilize the soft sandy parking area.
Additionally, the group added two more fire pits and one more picnic table to increase camping sites.
After their mower suffered a broken belt, the group used weed eaters to clean up the runway shoulders.
“The runway and parking areas are in great shape along with the camping sites,” Whitelaw said, adding “firewood is abundant.”
“Not only is Avey a convenient Washington-British Columbia border crossing, there’s hiking and deer and turkey hunting near the Kettle River, which can be fished,” he said.
The field is privately owned and listed in the Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) as Laurier-Avey Field, RAF officials noted.
You can check out the RAF’s Airfield Guide for more information on 69S.