On Sunday October 13th, 2024 nine amateur radio operators provided communications coordination for the annual Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race. The race starts and ends in Lewisburg, PA and runs a maximum of 120 miles through the Bald Eagle State Forest. This year 271 riders participated in the race. Amateur communications assisted with race administration and several calls relating to injured riders and an ambulance. Continue reading
Category Archives: Events
Western Pennsylvania Skywarn Exercise, October 19,2024
Between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday the nineteenth of October, Western Pennsylvania amateur radio operators cooperated with the National Weather Service offices in State College and Pittsburgh to test amateur communications capabilities throughout the ARRL WPA Section. It turned out to be a very successful drill confirming the ability of the State College NWS office (NWS CTP) to communicate over a wide area, including contact with the Pittsburgh office (NWS PBZ). Continue reading
Amateur Radio and the PATRA Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride 2024
What started as a cold and rainy day on Saturday September 7, 2024 wound up bright and dry(er) but still cold for the Pennsylvania Trail Rider’s Association annual 7 Mountains Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride in the Bald Eagle State Forest. One hundred eighty five motorcyclists started from the Union County Sportsmen’s Club in Weikert, PA and rode various trails through the forest to the Track and Trail Motorcycle dealership just off Route 322 outside State College. After lunch, they turned around and rode back to the Sportsmen’s club. Good communications is vital to the safety and orderly conduct of the ride. The ride tracks through four different Pennsylvania Counties: Union, Centre, Mifflin, and Snyder. There is NO cell service in the Weikert area and throughout most of the forest, so amateur radio provided all the communications for the ride organizers. Continue reading
Amateur communications for Second Annual Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley Triathlon
Amateur radio operators from several counties again provided communications assistance for the Happy Valley Ironman on June 30, 2024. About 1,600 athletes competed in the swimming, bicycling, and running event. The race started at the Foster Joseph Sayers lake near Howard, Pennsylvania and ended at Beaver Stadium on the Pennsylvania State University campus. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications For the 2024 MS Glimcher Keystone Country Ride
On June 22 and 23, 2024 fifteen amateur radio operators and two non-ham family members provide communications for the Annual Glimcher Keystone Country Ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Usually covering 150 miles over two days the NMSS decided to limit the riders to 50 miles each day because of the brutal heat wave covering Central Pennsylvania. NMSS wanted to limit the exposure of the riders, volunteers, and staff to the 100° plus heat index. Continue reading
Successful Communications for the Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder
ARES operators provided communications assistance for the 2024 edition of the Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder in Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest. About 200 riders participated over the three different courses, the longest being 65 miles. Amateur radio operators staffed three aid stations; Headquarters at Tussey Mountain Lodge, Penn Roosevelt State Park, and the Hammer station at North Meadows Road and Treaster Kettle Road. Although there was only one minor emergency the stations relayed operational information to and from headquarters. Continue reading
Results of the 2024 Western Pennsylvania (WPA) Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
On Saturday, 6 Apr 2024 The WPA and EPA sections of the ARRL and the American Red Cross conducted the annual WPA Spring SET to test emergency communications in the sections. Below is a summary of those efforts in Centre and Clearfield Counties. Continue reading
PEMA/ARC National Mass Care Exercise/Red Cross Announcement
From WPA Section Manager, JoeShupienis W3BC:
Attention all District Emergency Coordinators and County Emergency Coordinators! Our partner agency, Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is requesting the service of all ARES members in both Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Pennsylvania Sections to participate in an upcoming drill. Information follows, and reflects the work of many hams and Red Cross volunteers across the state in planning and coordinating these exercises. Participation is voluntary, however we encourage all ARES members to try to participate in at least one of the run-up exercises and the main event on May 22. we expect a good number of ARES members to offer their services. Continue reading
Ironstone 100K completed
Carmine, K3CWP, and Elaine, K3ERP, assisted amateur radio operators providing communications for the Ironstone 100K Ultramarathon race at Aid Station 3, Mt. Etna Station on the Lower Trail. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications for Rothrock Grit Bicycle Race
Eight amateur radio operators provided communications assistance for the annual Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder (what a name) bicycle race through the Rothrock State Forest on June 3, 2023. The race courses cover sixty-five miles over gravel roads and unimproved trails. Between 250 and 300 riders participated. Operations continued from 07:00 through 16:30 hours. Though most of these races are uneventful but this year’s was different, with one very serious crash requiring a lot of radio traffic between headquarters and the crash sites. Continue reading