Sunday, October 11th was a cold and rainy day for this year’s Unpaved of the Susquehanna River Valley. Even though, two hundred thirty one bicycle riders started the race from the Miller Center in Lewisburg, PA. The full segment of the race covered 120 miles through the Buffalo Run Valley and the Bald Eagle State Forest. Given the weather there were few problems with riders, though there was a medical emergency. Eleven amateur radio operators staffed eight aid stations throughout the day. Continue reading
Category Archives: ARES/RACES
Amateur Radio Communications at the Raven Half Marathon
One hundred and seventy one runners competed in the annual Raven Half Marathon on Sunday October 4, 2026. The race starts and ends at the main pavilion in Poe Valley State Park off of US Route 322 in Centre County, PA. This year The Raven added a 10K segment to the race. Amateur radio operators provided communications among headquarters at the pavilion and four aid stations on the race route through the mountains. Continue reading
Penna Trail Riders Association Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride 2026
On Saturday September 12th eighteen amateur radio operators handled communications for the annual PTRA 7 Mountains Dual Sport Ride through the Bald Eagle State Forest. About 218 motorcycles participated in the 100+ mile ride. Dual sport bikes are street legal and capable of off road riding. Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry provides dual sport trails for this purpose. Amateur radio operators provided over 118 hours of time providing communications from 06:30 to 18:45 hours. Thankfully there were no crashes or personal injuries and only some flat tires and other mechanical problems came up. Here are the amateur radio operators who contributed their time and equipment to the ride. Continue reading
2026 MS Glimcher Keystone Country Ride
On Saturday, August 8th About fifty-nine bicycle riders took to Central Pennsylvania roads to raise money for the National Multiple Scelerosis Society Glimcher Keystone Country Ride. There were three courses; thirty-five, fifty, and seventy-five miles starting at the Penn Stater Hotel and going south as far as Saint John Church in Tyrone Township, Blair County. Other stops were at Halfmoon Valley Church, Spring Mount Church, and Camp Kanasataki. It was a beautiful day for the ride and everything went smoothly except for a serious medical emergency with one of the riders. Continue reading
Skywarn Operations for June 14, 2026 Weather Event
Sunday June 14, 2026 a significant line of storms passed through Central Pennsylvania. The first notices of the event came from National Weather Service warnings and reports from Clearfield County Amateur Radio Club of severe weather. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Operators Assist Communications for the Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley 2026
On Sunday, June 14th, 2026 1,700 athletes participated in the 4th annual Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley Triathalon. Ironman races are held around the world but this is the fourth time the race has been conducted in Centre and Clinton Counties. Athletes start with a 1.2 mile swim at Foster Joseph Sayers lake in Clinton County, then a 56 mile bicycle race through Clinton and Centre Counties to the Penn State University Campus at Beaver Stadium. The final leg is a 13.1 mile run through the Penn State Campus. For the first time this year a group of professional athletes competed in qualifying for the Ironman world championship. Participating athletes came from all over the world.
Winter Storm Fern of 2026 and Amateur Radio Participation
Saturday and Sunday, January 24th and 25th, Winter Storm Fern struck Centre County and really all of Pennsylvania. Centre County ARES activated to provide local weather reports to the National Weather Service State College Office (NWS CTP) and to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). PEMA activated the Auxiliary Communications System with amateur radio operators staffing the PEMA station KB3NIA at the Commonwealth EOC near Harrisburg. Depending on where you were Fern dumped between seven and 15 inches of snow on the County. Amateur Radio Operators were active throughout the storm. Continue reading
Skywarn Recognition Day Centre County ARES Results ** UPDATED**
On Saturday, December 6th, from 1000 to 1100 Centre County ARES in cooperation with the National Weather Service Office in State College (NWS CTP) conduced a drill testing communications for weather events. Both the VHF/UHF stations at NWS CTP (WX3CTP) and the Centre County Emergency Operations Centre (CCEOC) were activated by Greg, K3HOT, and Carmine, K3CWP. Check ins with weather reports from a number of locations and stations were conducted. Continue reading
Skywarn Recognition Day 2025
Skywarn Recognition Day is sponsored by the National Weather Service on the First Saturday of December annually. For 2025, December 6, 2025, ue to fallout from the Federal Government shutdown, NWS has cancelled the 2025 event.
Regardless of the cancellation, Centre Counties ARES will conduct a short exercise on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 1000 to 1100. Continue reading for details. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications for the Unpaved on the Susquehanna Valley
On Sunday, October 12th thirteen amateur radio operators provided communications for the Annual Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race. Five hundred plus riders started in Lewisburg, PA at the Miller Center. Multiple routes were available to riders based on their capabilities/desires. However, the longest component of the ride was over 100 miles through the Bald Eagle State Forest. Continue reading