Amateur radio operators to assist with ultra-marathon race this weekend (Georgia)

During this weekend’s Georgia Jewel ultra-marathon in Dalton, runners will be trekking across the Johns Mountain Wildlife Area. It’s a beautiful and relatively remote expanse with limited cellular phone service reception.

During the event, 450 runners will be climbing up, crawling across and trekking through treacherous terrain, all without the convenience of cell service for races of lengths of 18, 35, 50 and even 100 miles.

The lack of cell service is obviously problematic for safety and logistics reasons.

However, to assist with communication across the course, organizers enlisted the aid of the Georgia Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

“This is a 100-mile race. Think what can happen in a 100-mile car drive; now add 450 people in the woods,” said Floyd County Emergency Management Deputy Director Chris Fincher. “We’re very lucky to have them.”

Read more – Rome News-Tribune: