Friends in the News: Soldier Meadows Cabin Restoration

After four trips to add a new roof, windows, and doors (and a much-needed coat of paint!), the Soldier Meadows public-use cabin is open for business, and the Reno Gazette-Journal wanted to let the public know! You can read about it here.

Soldier Meadows Cabin - Repaired and Ready for the Public

A solitary, scenic spot for photographers, hunters, hikers, and wilderness warriors, the Soldier Meadows cabin is first-come public use. Located in the heart of the Black Rock National Conservation Area, the primitive cabin - there is no electricity or plumbing - comfortably sleeps five, and is open year-round. The area offers access to multiple designated wilderness areas, including the North Black Rock Range Wilderness, High Rock Lake Wilderness, and East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness.

The historic cabin is open to all responsible users, from hot springs afficionados to chukar hunters (photo by Phil Akins)

Contractors donated their skills to assist with structural repairs, including the roof. Over three weekends, the storage area was enclosed, two new windows were put in, a gravel floor was laid, and obscene graffiti was painted over (photo by Pat Bruce)

Ladders and tool belts decorate the cabin at lunch (photo by Pat Bruce)

Installed in January, the wood stove will keep visitors toasty! Recommended fire wood size is less than 24 inches long and no more than 4 inches wide (photo by Phil Akins)

Zach Million of the Winnemucca BLM lends a helping hand by installing new shingles (photo by Pat Bruce)

UNR student Seth Barton takes a break from working on the chimney (photo by Pat Bruce)

Project Leader Pat Bruce and a couple volunteers smile after a long day of work!

UPDATE: On March 30, 2012, installation of the new door was finished at the cabin, completing the bulk of the restoration.

 

Pat Bruce ensures a good seal when the door is shut. (photo by Zack Million)

 

The solid new door will keep cabin visitors warm and eliminate drafts during cold weather. (photo by Pat Bruce)

FLY CANYON/SOLDIER MEADOWS

FLY CANYON/SOLDIER MEADOWS
March 27-29 2009

On Saturday March 28 volunteers from Friends of Nevada Wilderness ,the Nevada Outdoor School and the Friends of Black Rock High Rock participated in a restoration project in the High Rock Lake Wilderness at Fly Canyon.

Twenty-three hard working volunteers worked on five projects including a Soldier Meadows Hot Spring Campsite clean up. Folks also re-seeded the area with native plants and removed about 20 pounds of litter. Volunteers also re-seeded a previously decommissioned route at Chukar Gulch, installed carsonite sign posts to limit redundant routes on the Fly Canyon Road, decommissioned about a ½ mile of illegal trespass in the Wilderness area in and around Fly Canyon, and if that was not enough folks removed 300 pounds of barbed wire from Fly Canyon.

On Saturday night folks were treated to Holly Palmer’s world famous Ranchers Pie complete with a cornbread topping for dinner and a delicious Dutch oven pineapple upside down cake was served up to celebrate Seira Ploriez’s birthday. There is also an unconfirmed report courtesy of the Royal Marines that Volunteer Dick Ross lost his pants sometime during the trip, and the pants have not been heard from or seen since. Please contact Pat Bruce for more information on Mr. Ross's missing garments.

A big Wild Nevada thank you goes out to all those who made this trip a great success, from those who participated on the ground as well as those folks whose generous donations to Friends helped pay the trip expenses and made this restoration project possible.