Partnering Up Brings Critical Supplies to Forest Wilderness

When venturing out in the Sierra Nevada wilderness, the hum of a helicopter is probably the last sound you expect to hear in the pristine, yet rugged terrain.  

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But the nature and isolation that draws people to the area can quickly become obstacles to USDA Forest Service employees. Like when supplies need delivered to repair a cultural site in the middle of the wilderness. Luckily, we have a partner to call on for special deliveries.  

This past fall the California National Guard’s 1-126th Aviation collaborated with the Stanislaus National Forest to deliver critical supplies to remote areas of the forest near Cooper Meadow in the Emigrant Wilderness.   

“This was as an invaluable training opportunity for both teams, highlighting their shared commitment to readiness and resourcefulness,” said Shawn Winstead, district ranger for the Summit and Mi-Wok District of the Stanislaus National Forest.  

Let’s Talk About Work in the Wilderness 

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System and authorizes Congress to designate wilderness areas.  Today, there are over 800 wilderness areas in the United States, managed by different land agencies — the National Parks, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service.   

These areas are often left to the general forces of nature. That means these areas are both home to scenic beauty and countless cultural sites but also lands without roads to haul in supplies for preservation or repairs.  

With these challenges, forests like the Stanislaus get creative — which often means reaching out to partner agencies like the California National Guard.  

Soldiers flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Bravo Company’s 1-126th Aviation Regiment get to carrying out this work. They load up materials to transport and preserve this Chinese cultural site.  

“It provided a great experience and training for our aircrews that we cannot replicate as much as we’d like,” said U.S. Army Captain Patrick Koeneke, commander of Bravo Company.  

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Two sling loads transported nearly 12,000 pounds of milled and unmilled timber, which will be used to repair a historic site in the wilderness. Sling load operations involve transporting large, often heavy loads suspended beneath a helicopter. The delivery location, like many sites in the wilderness, was inaccessible by road and in high-altitude, mountainous terrain.  

The whole crew was excited to gain experience in sling-loading irregular cargo loads.  

“We are a heavy-lift helicopter company, so sling loads are our bread and butter. We practice them weekly with our training blocks. And it was a great opportunity to have a real-world sling load and personnel to work with,” Koeneke said.  

With the critical supplies delivered, the Forest Service didn’t miss a beat in starting work to preserve the cultural site. This is how sites like these can be around for generations of visitors to enjoy.  

The collaboration also enabled Forest Service personnel to share the logistical challenges of forest management. This helps prepare both agencies for future missions that may require rapid mobilization and coordination across rugged landscapes.  

Winstead sums up the group dynamic, “The success of this operation underscores the power of interagency collaboration in achieving common objectives — ensuring the Stanislaus National Forest and other vulnerable landscapes receive the support they need in times of crisis.”