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.

Sixteen amateur radio operators participated:

• Carmine Prestia, K3CWP @ Headquarters
• Greg Guise, K3HOT @ Short Mountain Road and Bull Hollow Road
• Dean Christian, K3IWI @ Poe Paddy Drive and Tunnel Spur Road
• Tim Gelvin (and wife)*** and Paul Walk, KC3QYP @ Track & Trail
• Andy Mummert, W3AND, and Keith Comp, KC3FVN @ Havice Vally Road and Strong Mountain Road *
• Thomas Davis, NW3X, and Doug Stevens, WA2BBS @ Swift Run Road and High Top Trail **
• Norm Chasse, AC3GD @ Henstep Trail and Hunter Road ****

With the exceptions below, the operators came from Centre County ARES.

* W3AND and KC3FVN came from Cumberland County and Perry Counties
** NW3X and WA2BBS came from Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties
*** K3TEG and his wife came from Northumberland County
**** AC3GD came from Clinton County

In addition to the above operators six members of PATRA operated on the trails either from motorcycles or trucks:

• Richard Baylor, KC3TVN, Rover
• Danie Brill, KC3VWG, Sweep Rider #3
• Jeff Foster, KC3DRP, Rescue Truck #1
• Jon (J.T.) Foster, KC3SXH, Sweep Rider #1
• Matthew Roan, KC3TZZ, Rescue Truck #2
• Stephen Steele, KC3VRZ, Sweep Rider #2

This is the only event in this area that features organization members who have obtained amateur radio licenses to help with coordination.  The Rover and Sweep riders were on motorcycles and had arranged their stations with handhelds or in one case, a mobile rig in backpacks with better antennas and a speaker microphone.  Though they usually had to be on higher elevations to communicate with Headquarters, their help added a valuable resource to the ride.  They deserve thanks for their initiative and creativity. Scott Stewart was the PATRA Incident Commander.  He remained around Headquarters on in radio contact via a GMRS handheld for questions and decisions.

Although there were some minor mechanical problems that required repair coordination and transport, there were no medical emergencies.  A fortunate day and testament to the skill of the riders.  This was a ride for recreation and not a race for time.

Thanks to everyone who made this a success, to PATRA for inviting us to participate,  and to the Nittany Amateur Radio Club for allowing the use of the W3YA repeater.

Carmine W Prestia Jr. K3CWP
ARES EC Centre County, PA