On September 10, 2022 the Pennsylvania Trail Riders Association conducted its annual Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride in the Bald Eagle State Forest.  About 280 motorcyclists participated in the course covering various routes through the forest.  The routes included everything from paved roads to trails that could only be traversed by hikers, mountain bikers, dirt bikes, or high clearance 4WD vehicles.  The course also included many changes in elevation between mountains and valleys.  It is a challenging all day course and there is no cell phone coverage on most of the route.  Amateur radio provided communications throughout the day.

Communications stations were: Headquarters at the Union County Sportmen’s Club, Jack’s Mountain Trailhead parking lot, Havice Vally Road at Strong Mountain Road, Track & Trail Honda, and Short Mountain Road at Cold Spring Trail.  Amateurs staffed all these locations.  We were also fortunate to have four new amateurs participating as a SAG vehicle, a rover motorcycle, and two sweep riders, one of whom is a physician.  Two GMRS handhelds were used between the Incident Commander of the ride and Headquarters so we always had contact with him.

These new amateurs obtained their licenses to help out at events like this, they are avid dual sport riders and are identified in the participant list below.  Their help was invaluable because of their ability to navigate the course between stations.

The Dual Sport Ride this year was one of the busiest we’ve seen.  A lot of break downs, tow-ins, and a rider who crashed and broke his leg.  His fortune was to be riding with his brother who is a nurse and had ‘Doc’, the rover responding.  The SAG vehicle got them out and to headquarters where the injured rider was transferred to another vehicle and headed out to more advanced medical care.  Throughout the day hams did what they do best, communicate.  Coordination of this ride would have been impossible without amateur radio.  The day provided a lot of training and experience while still being enjoyable.

Participating amateur radio operators are listed below.  They contributed more than eighty five hours to the event.

CENTRE

• K3HOT, Greg Guise
• W3KCK, Dave Kolesar
• K3CLM, Chad McKissick
• K3CWP, Carmine Prestia
• KC3TZZ, Matt Roan*

CLINTON

• AC3GD, Norm Chasse

CUMBERLAND

• KS3DRP, Jeffrey Foster*
• W3AND, Andrew Mummert

DAUPHIN

• KC3EUU, Steve Hensley

JUNIATA

• KC3EKL, Curtis Yerger

LEHIGH

• KC3TVN, Richard ‘Doc’ Baylor*

NORTHUMBERLAND

• KC3SXH, Jonathan Foster*
• K3TEG, Tim Gelvin
• Ernest Vandervort

* New amateur radio operators

Centre County ARES extends thanks to all of the hams who participated, some traveling a significant distance to provide service.  Also to the Pennsylvania Trail Riders Association for inviting us to help and K3YV, Woody, the trustee of the W3YA, 146.85 Nittany Amateur Radio Club repeater for its use.