Walkie Talkies in the Red

Post by **weber** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:40 pm

FRS radios have become popular in Muir Valley. And, not just for helping in setting routes. They are being used more and more for general communications. When someone arrives at the parking lot, they can call to find out who is where.

Also, if there is a need for fast, nearby help, a two way radio can be a lifesaver.

The climber's channel has been established in our area on 5.10. That means channel 5 with privacy code 10. (Easy to remember for climbers.)

If you are coming to the Valley, you might want to find out where the action is so you can either join in or avoid it.

Should work fine in other areas of the Red, too.

(disclaimer: I generally dislike all these new electronic "toys" that we stuff our landfills with. But, these radios are now pretty cheap and are serving a useful purpose.)

Rick Weber

Post by **GWG** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:51 pm

Thanks Rick.

Great information to have if you use these things. I've had the opportunity to see them in use when a couple of kids wandered off at a public camp ground. People were able to communicate and coordinate the search.

(disclaimer: I generally dislike all these new electronic "toys" that we stuff our landfills with.

When I'm in the back country, I use my compass and map. I don't use a GPS, don't even own one. I was hiking and came upon a couple who were completely turned around. They were actually heading in the opposite direction from where they wanted to be heading. Their GPS had malfunctioned and they were not able to find their way back to their car. As it turned out, they had dropped it while scrambling up a rock slide. It ended up in the stream at the bottom and I guess it leaked.

I guess people like that keep those in the search and rescue units busy.

GWG

Post by **hamsco** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:46 pm

I have used them many times on long routes. They can really help, when you can't hear your partner. Bulges, corners, and wind make it impossible to communicate sometimes. But I've never used them in the Red. Last weekend someone at Global had one and was talking to someone at Miguel's!!

Post by **dipsi** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:22 am

When I was with Search and Rescue, I was in charge of the radio on a night search. At first I was apprehensive and a little shy with the thing, having never used one. By the end of the search, my team collectively threatened to shove it up my......well, you get the picture. Very useful gizmo.

I do want to purchase a set, and a GPS so I can take my grandbuddies geo caching. Sorry to digress.

Post by **Meadows** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:25 pm

hamsco wrote:I have used them many times on long routes. They can really help, when you can't hear your partner. Bulges, corners, and wind make it impossible to communicate sometimes. But I've never used them in the Red. Last weekend someone at Global had one and was talking to someone at Miguel's!!

Those radios really helped us at Red Rocks!!!

Post by **Steve** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:42 am

I've seen people use those things at Seneca and always sorta makes me chuckle. Once ther was a group who was waaaay into using all the over and out lingo. Rhino where you there that time? Funny stuff.
My dad won some of those things in some raffle door prize thing and realized he had no use for them, so he gave them to me. I think I put them in my work truck as a back up for our 2-way system...I've never used them in the 4 years I've had them. Maybe if I could use them to avoid crowds at the crag I would pull them out and put batteries in them.