On Saturday, June 11th the Happy Valley Women’s Cycling Team (HVWC) held their annual Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder Race. This is a 66 mile race over various trails and roads in the Rothrock State Forest. Several hundred bicycle racers took to the course at 09:00. Six Centre County Amateur Radio Operators provided communications among three support stations and race headquarters. Continue reading
Category Archives: ARES/RACES
K3HOT/R Amateur Radio Repeater Information
A new Amateur Radio Service repeater is now in operation in Centre County.
The K3HOT repeater located on Rattlesnake Mountain operates on a frequency of 443.425mhz with a CTCSS of 107.2hz (pl 1B). The repeater is linked fulltime (a simulcast) with the W3ND repeater 145.11 at Harrisburg. This repeater serves as the PEMA auxiliary communications service repeater for the lower Susquehanna valley. The W3ND repeater also serves as the primary Skywarn repeater for a 10 county area. Continue reading
Centre County Skywarn Recognition Day 2021 Participation
UPDATE: 12/3/2021 @ 1632.
Click here to see a list of Skywarn Recognition Day Registration Numbers. You can still register if you wish but they don’t guarantee a number before SRD starts this evening.
Click here to see a list of participating stations. I imagine this will update as stations register, so check often.
Centre County amateur radio operators are invited to participate in Skywarn Recognition Day on December 3 & 4, 2021. We hope to have contacts on HF, VHF, and UHF. Participation details may be found in the following document
Participants may register at:
National Weather Service Skywarn Recognition Day
Amateur Radio provides communications for the Unpaved Bicycle Race
On Sunday, October 10, 2021, Amateur Radio operators provided communications for the Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race. The race starts in Lewisburg, PA and winds its way south west through the Bald Eagle State Forest back to Lewisburg. It is a particularly long race, the longest course is 120 miles with several other shorter courses possible. Near 1,200 riders registered for the race with about 800 riding. The reduced number was probably a result of the rainy weather. Continue reading
Local amateur radio operators assist Public Lands Ride
Five amateur radio operators provided communications assistance for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council Public Lands Ride on October 2, 2021. The course covered sixty five miles of mixed surface roads and paths in the Black Moshannon State Forest. About eighty-eight bicyclists rode the courses. Continue reading
Volunteers needed for TWO events on October 2, 2021
Centre County (and other) amateur radio operators (ARO) have the opportunity to volunteer for two events on October 2, 2021; the Pennsylvania Environmental Council Public Lands Ride (Bicycle) and the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test. Continue reading
Multiple Sclerosis Glimcher Keystone Country Ride – Public Service
The annual Glimcher Keystone Country Ride (GKCR) was back this weekend! Canceled last year as a result of the Pandemic, the ride was one day covering seventy-file miles in central Pennsylvania. The Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS) again asked for communications assistance from Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). Twenty three amateur radio operators from Centre, Blair, Venango, and Bedford Counties volunteered along with two from Maryland. Three relatives of participating amateurs also participated.
Eastern States 100 Ultra Marathon needs Amateur Radio Volunteers
We are looking for a bunch more radio operators to support the Eastern States 100 Ultra Marathon. Eastern States is a 103-mile single-loop trail race (98% single/double-track) in the Wilds region of the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania. The race circumnavigates a portion of the stunning Pine Creek watershed that includes some of our longest climbs and most technical and remote terrain. It visits storied trails like the Mid State Trail and the Black Forest Trail, and accumulates over 20,000 feet of climbing in the process — all in the glorious heat and humidity of August. This race is Saturday Aug 14 thru Aug 15 2021 Radio operators are need to help support Logistics and Tracking runners at the 17 check points. We need Volunteers for the following aid stations at a minimum AS1, AS3, AS5, AS11, AS16, AS17. Other Aid Stations have slots open. Please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/PA/Waterville/EasternStates100#16697
to sign up for and position labeled as Radio Operator.
Thanks
Travis Best
W3TMB
tbest@w3tmb.com
570-279-1746
Rothrock Grit Bicycle Race – Public Service
Saturday, June 5, eight amateur radio operators provided communications for the Rothrock Grit Mountain Bike race in the Rothrock State Forest. The race was sponsored by the Happy Valley Women’s Cycling. Two hundred forty five cyclists started the race which consisted of three courses: Grit, 25 miles; Grittier, 50 miles; Grittiest, 65 miles. Continue reading
Centre County ARES needs volunteers to provide communications for two events in the future:
The Rothrock Grit Bicycle Race on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 0830 through 1730. The race starts and ends at Tussey Mountain and wends its way through 75 miles of the Rothrock State Forest. There will be several fixed positions and possibly some mobile work.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society Glimcher Keystone Country Ride that we refer to as the MS-150 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 from 0700 through 1800.. The ride starts at the Penn Stater Hotel and runs South to the Sinking Valley area then returns to the Penn Stater. The ride is only ONE day this year. We will need a number of fixed and some mobile assignments, possibly with APRS.
If you are interested in helping with one or both of these events please contact me at k3cwp@arrl.net and give me an idea of the equipment you have available for use.
Thank you.
Carmine Prestia, K3CWP