New Stuff

FOE Workparty Press Release.
Click here for the story and photos

The Tahoe Forest Route Designation

Route Designation for Tahoe is out. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for review and download at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/projects_plans/ohv_inv/DEIS_overview.shtml

History of the Rubicon Trail Foundation is now available to read.
http://rubicontrailfoundation.com/aboutus/history.asp

Amateur Radio on the Rubicon

The Story
On July 7, 2007 a local Jeep club made their annual run on the Rubicon Trail. During that run, on their second day, on the way from Rubicon Springs to the Ellis Creek area, they were running Big Sluice in the uphill direction. In this difficult section, one of the vehicles rolled onto its right side, injuring the passenger. He was complaining of neck pain and chest pain and it was obvious to those nearby that he needed medical help. The club members and others on the trail tried futilely to summon help via CB and cell phone. The range on the CB’s was too short and no cell sites were available.

As the victim’s condition worsened it became clear that he needed to be flown out immediately, and it was decided to send hikers in each direction to try to find help. One was sent towards Rubicon Springs, the other towards Buck Island Lake. Fortunately, a small volunteer work crew had just finished a minor project at Buck Island Lake. One of those volunteers was a paramedic, but most importantly had access to amateur radio: a license and a radio. He had soon summoned a medical helicopter via amateur radio, secured a helispot at Buck Island, and begun treating the patient.

By the end of the day, board members of the Rubicon Trail Foundation had begun to discuss bringing widespread year around amateur radio use to the trail. This plan consisted of two phases:

1. By that fall the first RTF amateur radio license class was completed. Since then RTF has sponsored and put on classes to license more than 100 OHV oriented hams. More classes are planned!
2. In the spring of 2008 RTF began to execute a plan to have permanent year around repeater in the Rubicon. Cooperation with a local repeater operator was secured, an agreement was signed between the stakeholders, and construction completed on a repeater vault and the associated equipment by the summer of 2008. This required the assistance of many groups and individuals. To see the list, check the links below.

How it Works
The KA6GWY repeater system is comprised of three transmitters and a multitude of receivers. Keep in mind that this is the primary EL Dorado County Search and Rescue Team repeater, so courtesy should be shown them if they have a SAR mission going. It should be used as follows:

146.805 mHz, –0.0600 mHz split, PL 123.0 – The main KA6GWY repeater, located in the Placerville area, it works well on the western slope of El Dorado County including the western side of the Crystal basin and in the Sacramento Valley. This is the appropriate repeater to use in these areas and is permanently linked to the repeater on the trail.

444.9875 mHz, +5.00 mHz split, PL 156.7 – This is the Rubicon repeater, boasting year around hand-held coverage on all of the Rubicon Trail. It should be used in the Rubicon for talking from one area of the trail to another. Note that there is a receiver for the 146.805 permanently linked to the repeater so all of the 146.805 traffic will be heard.

444.9875 mHz, +5.00 mHz split, PL 107.2 – The same repeater listed above, but using a different PL will cause the Rubicon repeater to connect a transmitter to the 146.805 repeater, thus linking the two repeaters. This repeater should be used to contact emergency services or to talk to an amateur radio operator outside the Rubicon on the 146.805 repeater.

145.605 mHz, +0.600 mHz split, PL 123.0 – This is the Tahoe basin repeater. It is permanently linked to the 146.805 repeater and works well in most areas of the Tahoe Basin as well as in some side canyons.

Please keep in mind that you must be licensed to use these repeaters.

For questions please contact:

John Arenz
N6YBH

For information on RTF amateur radio licensing classes contact:

Dennis Mayer
W2DWM

Links

List of contributors
Amateur Radio Resources