By Mark Spencer
September’s Grapevine monthly fly in event also turned into an ad hoc volunteer maintenance weekend. Over 20 aircraft and multiple ground vehicles showed up for much needed maintenance at Arizona’s most utilized backcountry airstrip, located off the shores of Roosevelt Lake on the Tonto National Forest. This was the first of the monthly fly in events and potlucks of the 2021/22 season and the need for maintenance became obvious as aviators began to arrive late Friday afternoon. The windsock was missing in action, weeds had begun to encroach the runway edges and even into some runway cracks, and new water drainage ditches that had been cut in last year were already filling with sediment. Calls went out to the usual volunteers and by Saturday over 20 volunteers were on site with implements of destruction in hand! Thanks to all of you who sacrificed your time and effort to this great cause!
