START  PLANNING  NOW  TO  ATTEND  FIELD  DAY   2008
2008 Site yet to be determined...

2007 Field Day At KINGS HILL CAMPGROUND
JUNE   28   &  29   2008
YOUR ideas are appreciated... SO, come to a regular club meeting, and give us your input. 

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On the fourth full weekend in June, the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club travels to King's Hill Campground near the summit of King's Hill and the Showdown Ski Area on Highway 89.  The location is approximately 60 miles south of Great Falls at an elevation of nearly 7000 ft.   Once there, amateur radio operators will assemble antennas, towers, emergency power generators,  and operate portable and emergency communications equipment to participate in FIELD DAY  Thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts nationwide will "head for the hills," or the desert, or the plains, or in some other way,  present themselves with less than ideal operating conditions.   This is done as a readiness exercise to learn how to handle communications situations should a natural disaster or widespread emergency occur, and normal power and operating locations be unavailable.  The club brings portable towers, and an operations trailer with room for several operating positions and if available, our GFAARC / Cascade County Mobile Emergency Communications Van, dubbed the "COMMO VAN."  This van is contains a full compliment of County and State Public service radio equipment.  Use of the Commo Van allows amateurs a chance to familiarize themselves with the van's layout and technical operation.  Should an emergency arise, hams assist disaster officials with manning the van.  Within only a few minutes hams can be on the air providing some emergency communications.  Within just a few hours, HAMs can setup a complete emergency amateur radio facility able to operate on all bands and most modes, including everything from CW (Morse Code) to the latest in voice, digital and satellite communications.  At Field Day, expect to see all this and more including several towers with large beam antennas,  long wire antennas, emergency power generating equipment, computers and all the other equipment and support hardware that makes all this magic happen.  In addition to that you'll also see the "non-radio" side of the operation: the care and feeding of assembled operators, their campsites, and a behind the scenes look at how the Field Day Team can work together to continue to operate on many different modes and many different locations -  simultaneously - around the clock.  

The general public is invited... to come and watch, ask questions, learn about amateur radio and emergency communications, or perhaps even lend a hand as the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club attempts to make as many "contacts" as possible with other stations across the U.S. and Canada  in a 24-hour, non-stop period beginning at noon on Saturday June 26th.   Assembly of the antennas and raising of the tower will commence a few hours prior to the event's noon start time.  Come early to watch this impressive event ! 

To get to the site, travel east on 10th Avenue South, onto Highway 87 past Belt, to the junction of Highways 87 and 89 (Armington.) Take Highway 89 toward White Sulphur Springs.  Just before the summit of King's Hill, watch on your right for a the State Park Sign "King's Hill Campground."  Enter the campground (no fee required for daytime use) and follow the road around to find the Field Day encampment.  Please observe the speed limit signs, as Field Day has become a "FAMILY" outing, and many smaller children may be "on the loose !"   Please watch your step, as there are antenna guy wires and cables on the ground.   Feel free to ask questions, and please follow instructions you may be given for your own safety.  Campground Restrooms (out houses) will be operational, however the campground water supply may not.  Visitors are advised to bring their own drinking water.

We look forward to meeting you and showing you the benefits amateur radio can provide in case of an emergency or disaster.
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  Earthquakes, tornadoes, or other disastrous events may disable normal communications.   Usually within hours after such devastation, local "HAM" radio operators have emergency stations on the air - reporting on the conditions of the scene, and relaying vital life-saving messages into and out of the affected area.   In addition to "official communications,"  HAMS also work closely with federal, state, or local agencies to provide worried families outside the area with health, welfare, and location information of loved ones.   In some cases, the only means of contact with the affected area is amateur radio.  Field Day gives Amateur Radio Operators a chance to practice these skills.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club wishes to thank the Lewis and Clark National Forest personnel and the U.S. Forest Service for allowing the use of the campground and other facilities during FIELD DAY ! 
PLEASE !   Return your gratitude by observing all forest service posted signs,
personnel, and keep your campsite clean.   It is a tradition that our club leave the campground CLEANER than it was when we arrived.  Make a sweep of the entire area, picking up and disposing of any trash you may find (even if it isn't yours).  Let's work together to ensure the use of this facility in future years.