Friends of

INSTALLING BEAR PROOF LOCKERS
by Judy Buckingham

This year's project weekend was a huge success. Eleven hardworking volunteers, plus several park service staff, dug holes and placed 16 bear proof storage lockers at Lost Creek Campground. Part of the group camped there for the weekend.

We began Saturday morning with a briefing by Chief Ranger Dave Brennan on safety and project particulars. He showed us the lockers. Then he demonstrated how to choose a site for them within each campsite--easy enough for the front end loader to place, handy to the "kitchen" area of the site if possible, trying to minimize damage to the site as it exists now.

We went off in groups to select sites and stake them out. After approval by Dave, we began digging the holes, about 4" x 4". This took the rest of the day, with a short lunch break in one of the campsites. Board members selected a table to hold their board meeting after the work session. Eventually, dinner was laid out and everyone had a chance to discuss the day's progress and enjoy the beauty of the evening and each other's company.

Next morning, Brian Coulter gave a brief safety talk concerning work around heavy equipment. Then the excitement began. Brian would take the front end loader to the storage area, lift up a locker, drive it to a site, and gently place it in the prepared holes we had dug the day before. His helper guided them in expertly.

After they were gone, a crew of Friends could then shovel dirt in around the locker and rake the area and place duff around to make it look as undisturbed as possible. Dave Brennan and Brandon Marlow placed printed information on each locker to tell campers about their use.

All in all, from start to finish, it was a fantastic project and the whole thing was completed in the one weekend for a great sense of accomplishment that all Friends volunteers felt.

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