Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Radios in emergencies

Sad to hear about the accident.

About FRS channels - There are no designated emergency FRS frequencies for the reasons previously given, primarily limited range. Even ham repeaters are difficult to hit on most of the lower part of the trail.

I've heard FRS channel 1 often suggested and it is available to both FRS and GMRS. Subchannels should NOT be used because not all FRS radios have them. Thus, 9-11 would be unavailable to many.

SAR, etc., does not monitor FRS or CB in many areas because of the endless chatter, garbage, and interference, let alone the fact that they have enough to do monitoring their own frequencies: SAR VHF, CLEMARS, etc.

Bottom line: Don't rely on FRS, but it could be used to coordinate efforts by civilians until SAR gets there. The best approach is to have someone strong hurry down to the portal for help.

If you really want to make sure you can get help, get a satelite phone.

These nationwide walkie-talkie's are still just cell phones. They operate at a very high frequency 800 to 900 MHz range. That means you must have a direct line-of-sight to the tower or no signal. Likewise, the hand held talkabout FRS radios work in the 450 MHz area. Line of sight is required or no signal. AsABat is correct. If you MUST have communication, carry a satellite phone. And that may not work at the bottom of a slot canyon.

Even satellite phones are questionable in mountain terrain. Satellite acquisition is also line of site and I've found that the phones often can't connect.

"coordinate efforts by civilians" what does that mean?

Most SAR are just "civilians" with training. Albeit all the heli/sar guys I've ever met are sheriffs & emt-sheriffs. Some SAR heli-crews are starting to carry GMRS radios. I mean really when the heli is dispatched the info is given location/radio channel/ etc, etc, it would be silly for them not to have one.

It does not matter wether your in a group or just by yourself because of the wide spread use of FRS/GMRS you should not hike without one.

We were able to radio relay with just three people from the portal to trail crest.

That kind of communication is critical if something goes wrong.

There small, light, and inexpensive so until something better comes along use them.

Another note, don't rely on anything electronic, cell, radio, gps, nothing!!! While these items can save your life they are often unreliable when you need them the most. By carrying them you are stacking the odds in your favor.

Having been told by a SAR heli-pilot next to being given a lat/long on a victim a mirror is the most usefull item you can carry. How many people do you think carry a little metal mirror?
No batteries in that.

Always have a backup plan, and always send someone strong to get help.

Ham radio operators should carry a 2m radio. I was up there two weeks ago and was able to talk to Lone Pine (146.76- pl100.0) from Trail Camp easily and from most anywhere above that level (except the backside of course).

If I were USFS (or Inyo SO) I would put a GMRS remote base at that repeater location (or any better location) and monitor one FRS/GMRS channel between 1-7 with a particular tone code(*), and let people know it is being monitored for emergency calls. FRS channels 1-7 are also GMRS channels and can talk to GMRS radios.

Everyone should be self sufficient in the wilderness but this trail has so much traffic and attracts so many different skill levels that additional support ought to be considered.

(*) the tone code is essential to filter chatter and noise from other areas. That's part of the problem with CLEMARS, many dispatchers turn down the sound on it because there is no PL tone and there is too much noise and garbage that come thru.

Does anyone know what channel does FS uses? Are they on a repeater? Who monitors 146.760?

Ham Radio operators are radio hobbyists, many of whom voluntarily provide help in emergency communications situations. So the only monitoring of 146.76 would be hams in the Lone Pine area who happen to be listening. There's most likely someone always monitoring but there's no guarantee.

I suspect the USFS doesn't have a repeater with coverage up in Outpost/Trail Camp area. When we pass thru Outpost Camp a ranger there was trying to call a ranger at Trail Camp (using their handheld radios) and couldn't reach him.

By "coordinate efforts by civilians" I'm referring to untrained people at the scene doing a quick search. While in the situation mentioned I would do this, in the "so-and-so didn't come home last night" situation the trained SARs usually prefer that untrained people NOT go in and disturb footprints and other evidence.

Some heli crews and SARs may monitor GMRS in some cases. I'm a comm operator with RACES which works with SAR and many other groups. Among our activities is a full mobilization at an off-road park on holiday weekends. We tried monitoring FRS, GMRS, and CB. We all quickly agreed it was worthless. Too much traffic on any frequency, and, even if we could set a PL (subchannel) AND get that information to the public, someone would be on it anyway.

So, bring what you want, but have a plan when none of it works. IMO, 2 meter ham is usually the most reliable, although even that has few places other than passes on the Muir Trail. See <a href-="www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct">www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct</a> .

AsABat