Ray Arnold is keeping his job. -last backcountry USPS air delivery-

[underpants]

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 15, 2009, an airplane used by Ray Arnold to deliver mail to remote ranches and outfitters in central Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, sits parked near a mailbox at Shepp Ranch on the Salmon River. On Thursday May 7, the U.S. Postal Service said it had renewed Arnold's contract for mail delivery for another year, backing off its plan to sever its contract for the only flying backcountry air mail route remaining in the lower 48 states.
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Postal Service to renew Idaho backcountry route
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-may0709-wilderness_postal_route.1dc8a27.html

BOISE -- The U.S. Postal Service is reversing course and will not cancel a contract with Idaho backcountry pilot Ray Arnold.

His air mail route serves more than 20 ranches in the Frank Church-River of No Return wilderness.

Arnold flies the only backcountry air mail route remaining in the lower 48 states, and residents on his route asked Idaho's congressional delegation to step in and urge the Postal Service to renew the $46,000 contract.

Sen. Jim Risch received a letter from Postmaster General John Potter that said he has reviewed the matter and could not find an acceptable delivery alternative to provide mail service to those remote postal customers.


Arnold, who has held the contract for 34 years, says Postal Service officials don't understand why the mail can't be delivered in other ways. But many of the ranches in the more than 2-million-acre wilderness area are 60 or more miles from the nearest road.

In addition to delivering the mail, Arnold flies in perishable food and other supplies to the residents.



This grass airstrip is typical of the landing areas found in Central Idaho's vast Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Seen here are biologists researching wolves and cougars in the area.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/postal_service_reconsiders_con.html

[Robb]

1. Having lived in the hinterland of Colorado

...I find this absurd. 20 ranches?

My town of 800 souls did not have mailboxes, we got our mail at the post office because an extra carrier was too expensive.

According to the article he flies in "perishables" as well. If you're on a ranch in the middle of the wilderness, you need to get your own plane.

[Uben]

2. My grandmother has severe rheumatoid arthritis and.....

...she can't even get them to deliver her mail to the porch! Wonder who's getting the kickback in this one? Seriously!

If I lived on top of Mt. Ranier of St. Helens, would they deliver to me? Hell no, they would make me get a PO box and pick up my own mail, just as they should these ranches. They chose to live remotely and the American taxpayer should not have to pay extra for their decisions.....period!

[izquierdista]

3. Damn socialists

They should let the "free market" set the price for mail delivery to them.