Baker-to-Vegas - MojaveRATS ARC Final Call

[Arkarch]

Follow-up from earlier posting in December.

March 14-15 is the 25th running of the Baker-to-Vegas Challenge Cup Relay - a 120-mile 20-stage foot relay race (baton-pass) on the back highways from north of Baker to the Las Vegas Hilton via Ibex Pass, Shoshone, Chicago Valley, Pahrump, and over Mountain Springs Pass. This year 250 law enforcement teams are participating - agencies from all over the southwest, federal agencies, even international groups.
Much more at http://www.bakervegas.com

So what brings rovers and ham radio into the mix? Every team out there has to support its own logistical operation - follow vehicles, shuttle vehicles, command post - and communications. The MojaveRATS ARC is one such group that is supporting four LA Sheriff teams this year. For what you may think of law enforcement when on duty, this is (mostly) a great bunch of guys to work with and very competitive. One of our teams is the #1 overall team out there - running 120 miles in 12 hours, 48 minutes last year (beating CHP by a few minutes). Our Teams - #1 LASD Mens Central Jail / IRC, #91 LASD Norwalk, #118 LASD Transportation, and #221 LASD Community College / Marina Del Ray.

The MojaveRATS is mostly staffed now - we have about 30 Ham Radio operators just for our four teams. So consider this an opportunity. If you would like to take a 24-hour adventure through a hot and cold, muddy or dusty, maybe rainy or dry or snowy desert participating in a very active and rolling radio network, we may have a spot for you in one of our team vehicles or relief in one of our rovers. We supply the equipment (though bring a HT if you got one). There are a few car-pools departing from the Orange County area early Saturday 3/14 am - returning Sunday afternoon; and groups making arrangements to be in Barstow, Pahrump, Baker or Vegas the night before. Post-race buffet somewhere (likely Orleans) Sunday AM.

In addition, We maybe looking for a buddy/assist to hang out at a high relay spot with me 8 am - 8 pm (or so) Saturday 3/14 (bring a lawn chair and enjoy the view, or hike or something, yeah its boring but I believe in the buddy system); and maybe a rover to work with one of our Communications Captains on the course (much more exciting). Ordinarily our group does not let first year volunteer operators on the course alone - as there are plenty of rules and restrictions that can cause our client team a penalty - but let me know if you are interested and we can talk.

Some pix from last year at http://picasaweb.google.com/mojaverats .

We tend to be a fairly off-highway-centric group - at least among the leadership. If interested, drop me a reply here or at mojaverats - at - gmail.com before Feb 15. We'll be generally closing our roster at a full-staff planning meeting at LASD Norwalk Station (near Valley View/I-5) on Sunday 2/15 11:00 am (meet at flagpole) with a breakfast at Applebees before at 9:30 - also email for specifics. If your situation is not clear, drop a line suggesting interest and we can account for the possibility of your arrival on race day.

If you're supporting other teams or handling actual race support, please share. Always good to know who may be out there.

[Arkarch]

While Feb 15 was the roster deadline, we have room for an operator or two to help fill out our communications teams. We'll likely need to freeze the roster by Friday as our travel and deployment plans take effect. If anyone has interest, a Ham license, especially if you are in the LA County service area, and would like to play radio in the desert this weekend, drop me a line at mojaverats - at - gmail - dot - com .

I'll post a report and photos after the event is complete.

[DaveK]

Karl:

I don't mean to hijack things here..........but is that a Scorpion antenna on top of the Touareg?


Now, back to b2v.

[Arkarch]

Karl:

I don't mean to hijack things here..........but is that a Scorpion antenna on top of the Touareg?

Now, back to b2v.

The big pipe is a High Sierra Sidekick. Awesome tuneable HF - I have hit the UK from Nevada on 80 meters (when sticking a 9' CB pole atop the coil). The others are Diamond VHF / UHF's and a 2.4 Ghz Comet.

[DaveK]

Karl:

I don't mean to hijack things here..........but is that a Scorpion antenna on top of the Touareg?

Now, back to b2v.

The big pipe is a High Sierra Sidekick. Awesome tuneable HF - I have hit the UK from Nevada on 80 meters (when sticking a 9' CB pole atop the coil). The others are Diamond VHF / UHF's and a 2.4 Ghz Comet.

Thanks, Karl!

[Arkarch]

Quick TR.

The MojaveRATS had about 25 Ham operators supporting four LA County Sheriff teams, including their flagship Mens Central Jail team. We had gone through a series of meetings over several weeks to confirm radio equipment needs, vinyl numbers, travel plans, schedule, and roster completions - but even with all the preparation unknown events occur.

The Las Vegas Echolink Relay - We had setup the Echolink Relay in Las Vegas more than a week before the race atop an industrial building using a Comet GP-3 older Kenwood TM-721A. Really wide coverage. Yet on checkout we discovered that CTCSS only worked on the Sub on that radio. A week later, Thursday before the race, I came back to replace with one of my TM-74x Tribanders. The CTCSS TSU-7 Circuit failed to work, so we swapped some modules with another tri-bander and got success. A day later our Echolink host noticed a peculiar picket-fence sound that was traced back to a non-functioning UT-50 (6m) module in the radio. Pulled the module... almost good.... except on our way out Saturday morning a Ham from outside the area had latched onto our Echolink connection and was experimenting with DTMF tones - argh! Once our Pahrump CP connected and ID'ed the station noting support for law enforcement, the curious subscriber vanished with no further problems during the race day.

So while I was swapping radios, we finished out the team vinyls - Cut numbers and names and placards for 20 vehicles. And sorting out the T-shirts for all our members. DId not finish til 2:30 am Thursday.

Friday morning meant a trip to Pahrump to greet our incoming CP RV crew and setup of Internet at the hotel. More problems, until we got a number for the host's Internet service to reset the AP. Back to Vegas in the evening for last minute supplies, then a long unexpected install session at the Hilton for three shuttle vehicles that were not going to be at our Baker setup location Saturday. Another 2:30 am night.

Wake up 6:00 am Saturday, drive back out to Pahrump to meet up with our outgoing Rover 2 (Jeep). Rover 1 (another Jeep) was already in Baker doing install of Follow and Shuttle Vehicles. We have seven rovers - 5 with 4x4 capability - on course. Up the mountain I go, deep into the Spring Mountain National Rec Area to a relay location at 7000'. I notice that I am in the snow line. Set up a Diamond X3200A antenna on the tribander; then the 440 Comtelco beam.... Spent all day performing relay on our tiered communications system - as the crossbanding failed. But great day! As it gets dark I tear down my relay - busting a coax connector in the process. But all is good as I flash my lights from 7000' and can be seen from a stage nearly 20 miles away. Cool. Down the hill to party central - our CP and team party rooms. On the way down I discover my rewetter drops for contacts drained - so its a blurry drive down. Fresh Carne Asada courtesy our Norwalk friends Get resupplied - eventually swap contacts... then back on the course to deliver the BBQ to our operators, on to Mountain Springs Pass.

Our group has a favorite relay spot at Mountain Springs Pass - a cel tower site atop a boulder-strewn climb off of Highway 160. In the dark, dodging the holes and straddling the very eroded trail up - its short aggressive fun. I hear a Navigator tried to followed me - I knew he wasnt going far. This is 4x4 Offroad Territory - leave'em in the dust. A short time later Rover 1 passes by my near-top alcove to summit on the narrow shelf. Rover 2 is too tired to make the complete climb. We all chat on 220 at midnight. Its a quiet night; someone mentions the lack of wind and just five minutes later a blast of wind hits us, wreaking havoc on my unsecured X3200A mast. We split up - Rover 1 on to Vegas, Rover 2 to go back and tear down the Command Post, and I to wait for a LASD CCS/MDR shuttle for tear down on Mountain Springs Pass - there is 12' of 10 guage zip fused power harness to rescue. Later II roll down to Las Vegas to arrive at the Hilton at - you guessed it - 2:30 am - and photos of our #1 team arriving at the finish line -- 120 miles relay run in 12 hours, 48 minutes. Norwalk #91 finishes 91st - LASD Transportation betters last yearas time at 17 hours - and CCS/MDR makes a respectible 19 hour return to the race. More teardown work, naps, buffet at 8:00 am Sunday, more nap, then back to the Hilton for the room parties and awards at 7:00. Mr T was the keynote - I pity the Fool. One death on course - an RV Support volunteer - first year and loving it - collapses with a heart attack. Paramedics at the location cant save. Sometimes its your time.

Slept all day Monday.

And thats Baker-to-Vegas.

Next year our group looks to support LASD MCJ/IRC for their three-peat performance as #1 team out of 250 teams. Plus our usual LASD Norwalk and hopeful returns of new teams LASD Transportation and LASD Community Colleges/ Marina Del Ray.

For us, this event combines two passions - Offroading in the mountains with intense Ham Radio networking - over a 24 hour period. Darn, next race is April 17-18 2010.


LASD Norwalk #91

LASD MCJ / IRC #1

LASD Norwalk #91 in Shoshone

Rover 1 On Course

MountainTop on a February Test Day.

Command Post in Pahrump

Mountain Top from a previous race.

More photos -
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojaverats/B2V2009#

[hmfigueroa]

A cool find while out there


A view from the worksite

Our Team Vehicle

The shack

Arkarch, thanks for your teams efforts I know how trying it is.

[Arkarch]

Yeah, that is a cool find out there. Coast Guard. I wonder if that's related to the Searchlight installation?

Looks like Ibex. Were you supporting Temple? Not sure where the last shot "The Shack" is.

edit - doh' I see Temple in your signature.

[Arkarch]

The 2010 race is April 17-18.

MojaveRATS / KM0RAT is once again looking for Ham radio volunteers. We generally support #1 LASD Men's Central Jail, Transportation, Norwalk, and Community College / Marina Del Ray. The club supplies essential equipment. You just need to be licensed. We have several operators from Orange County and carpools should be available to and from course, usually Friday evening / Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon. PM if interested.

Also a shout-out to hmfigueroa who runs communications for LASD Temple (if I am correct?)

[Fetus]

I usually run Baker To Vegas every year. Not this year due to knee surgery. A good time. Even more fun when the weather goes bad in the higher elevations between Pahrump and Las Vegas.

It's neat seeing all the ham stations set up in the middle of nowhere.