Fourteen Amateur Radio operators provided assistance at the 11th annual Keystone Trail Association Challenge on Sept. 7th. It was a challenging 50 Km course from Pequea Campground (Lancaster Co.) to Otter Creek Campground (York Co.). Roles included net control, checkpoint staff, sweep-hiking, and improvising antennas, following the last hikers while carrying radios. The Keystone VHF Club provided its portable repeater that was located at Pinnacle Lookout, a point 583 feet above the Susquehanna River. The course crosses the river on the Norman Wood Bridge. This area is as challenging for radio as for hikers with relief that goes from a few feet above the level of the river several times to the 583 ft at Pinnacle and several other lesser points.
Exceprt from theBurgnews: “The KTA Trail Challenge is a major logistical undertaking for KTA and its local volunteer partner organizations. Over 100 volunteers coordinated the event, from checking in event participants, sweeping the trail behind them, to shuttling belongings and persons along the trail, making sandwiches, and refilling water bladders and bottles. Volunteers are stationed along the bridge to ensure the safety of the runners beside traffic, and are in constant communication through Ham radio.”
Here are the Hams who organized and assisted:
- Danial Boone (KB3ZMB), Project Lead
- York VHF Club, W3HZU (Rich Diem, W3OKU)
Net Control –
- Doug Rice (W3COB)
- Mark Vreeland (KB3NCJ)
- Ben Rice (KC3KBS)
- Ralph Brandt (K3HQI)
Checkpoint Staff –
- Dave Olson (W3EO)
- Patti Olson (W3KO)
- Rich Diem (W3OKU), maintainer of the repeater
- Paul Long (AC3CL)
- Betty Long (KC3EWO)
- Bill Kelly (KC3LHG)
- Jim Fry (KC3EWN)
Trail Radio Sweeps –
- Cameron Bailey (K3TA)
- John Kidd (KC3FJZ
- Anthony Kidd (KC3FJA)
- Jack Spitznagel (KD4IZ)
- Kris Bearcove (KB1EAR)
Submitted by Ralph E. Brandt H3HQI
ARRL EPA Affiliated Club Coordinator