Flathead Valley to get Transceiver Park

[CatWoman]

At our GCAC board meeting yesterday, it was brought up that we WILL be getting a Transceiver Park here!! I'll post more details as we move along on this, but this is going to be a great thing for us to have!

 

[GODEEP]

sorry for my ignorance, but what is a tranciever park?

 

[CatWoman]

From BCA's website:

BCA Beacon Training Parks are training systems created to make it easier for recreationists and pros to practice with their transceivers. It features 10 permanently buried transmitters wired to a central control panel. To change the scenario, just flick the on/off switches on the control panel. Instead of digging holes and reburying beacons all day, you spend your valuable time actually practicing with your transceiver. It’s especially useful for practicing multiple and deep burials, which usually require the most work.

BCA page on Training Parks

I know there are some places with less than 10 transmitters. There is a list of places that have them on the link above. Not sure yet on how many we'll have, but this is a great tool to have.

 

[GODEEP]

gotcha.. that is a good idea. would make practicing a bit more fun as well.

 

[arcticsledhead]

Hey CatWomen, when you start looking for donations let me know, MT Dream is our GM and I am sure the company could pony up a donation for such a great cause.

 

[CatWoman]

So far I believe Flathead Electric is going to cover this with a grant. If not, I'll certainly be in touch. We should be getting it next week sometime, then to figure out the details on getting it installed (and where, though it'll probably be top of Big Mtn so it's easy access for the main user groups that need this).

I'll keep this updated as we progress.

 

[CatWoman]

It's here!!!!

Beacon park is here, and installed (kind of a *soft* install for this year). It's at the top of Big Mtn., off to the side of the snowmobile parking/turn around, on the ski patrol shack side. There are 4 buried beacons right now (next year will be 8), and they have plywood over top, so you can probe, but no need to dig (just switch off after you find on control panel).

Press release should be coming this next week!