Join us September 12, 2026 to honor Gary and raise money for an astounding foundation.

Food, drinks, raffles, games for kids and adults alike (with guaranteed prizes) music, and more. Entry fee will include a drink cup, sticker, drink token, and 1 raffle ticket. Extra tickets and shirts for sale. Entry fee not required to participate, but much appreciated.

Who was Gary? Gary was a long-time resident of Packwood and avid hiker. He worked the majority of his life for the Forest Service and fought wildfires in the summer. His passions were many, but mostly hiking, wildland firefighting, wood carving (the big carving next to the fireplace is his work), and rescuing “those damn cats.” Gary was born in 1941 and passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2023. He worked and hiked up until his diagnosis just 6 weeks prior to his death, at the age of 82. He had a zest for life and learning rarely matched. If you frequented the brewery at all you probably saw him hanging out with fellow hikers. A handful of the items displayed around the brewery came from Gary. He formed a strong bond with Tina and Josh, owners of PBC, and is missed by many.

Where does my money go? The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s main focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. They honor and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters. More can be found here.

Wildland Firefighting losses are about 20 deaths per year. That does not include injuries or suicides. It’s a high stress, high risk, thankless job that men and women take on to help keep our forests and homes safer. There is very little help for these families left behind. That is where the Wildland Firefighting Foundation steps in. Last year we donated over $2000 and we are hoping to beat that this year. Please come help us, every penny counts.