Mt Whitney Zone Forums The Chat Room HAM radios on the whitney trail

So how many hikers on this board are HAMS? I will be hiking August 1st so we are looking into communication. Does any know if Ham radios work on the trail from beginning to end? (I get there will be RF holes) If so, what frequency works best?
Thanks.

I'm not a HAM, but have military comm experience. HF, at night, ought to work just fine, as you probably realize. But VHF will be spotty, depending on location. UHF...probably the same as VHF, but with more blind spots.

Maybe someone currently active with a local SAR team can give you some information. Try contacting CLMRG or Inyo SAR; I know they use VHF on the SAR freq, with repeaters on nearby peaks.

I found this HAM thread, so should help:     HAM radio for safety/checking in

I have some info on ham radio on the PCT, including repeaters, at www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct . At the bottom click on California and scroll about half way down for the Whitney area.

Ham radio is another tool in the backpack. There's at least one ranger in Seki that carries one. Repeaters work great from passes, and do work at a few other places as well. I was surprised to learn there was a spot at Rae Lakes I could reach a repeater near Independence.

AsABat aka AA6J
(I don't get on this list.)

Thanks for the link, Bill. I hope it helps some hikers.

I am a ham operator. I have used it on the trail just to communicate from radio to radio. I did not attempt to use any repeaters. Our communications were never more than a few miles away so I don't think our usage will answer your questions.

Brent N
KI6NEJ

Thanks, Brent. My husband was looking for a way to keep in contact with me while I hike and he waits.
Tina
kc6odr