[Scan-DC] listening At Timberline

[Ralph Johnson]

I spent the Presidents' Day weekend skiing and scanning at Timberline 
Resort in Canaan Valley, WV.   While the main object was to ski, I also 
wanted to scan the resort to understand what pairs Timberline used for 
communications.  In addition to just listening in on the resort 
operations and knowing what run to avoid if there is an accident, I 
don't mind having the ability to call in an accident (especially if it 
involved me and I am conscious enough to make the call).

I identified three antennas for the UHF 450-470 commercial band.  One 
was located right over the ticket window/ski school located at 
390232N/0792356W (coordinates from a Magellan GPS).  The second is over 
the ski patrol/first aid building approximately 100 meters south of the 
ticket window at 390233N/0792357W.  A third antenna is located at the 
top of the timberline mountain at the Top Duty ski patrol cabin: 
390156N/0792343W.  By contrast, the FCC database gives a single 
coordinate at 390025.4N/0792611.2W a point south and west of the top 
duty location.

Frequencies
The FCC database gives the following frequencies assigned to 
Timberline.  Naturally, I wanted to confirm these and identify any 
unlisted frequencies.

460.6500     TIMBERLINE
464.6500    TIMBERLINE
465.6500     TIMBERLINE
469.6500     TIMBERLINE
155.1600
155.2200
155.2350

Results
My scanning results were interesting.  First I found their CTSS was 
[127.3].  Then I scanned the listed frequencies and from 450 to 470 MHz 
to confirm and identify new frequencies.  First, I found the 155.XXX 
frequencies were Tucker County emergency dispatch frequencies.  Obvious, 
since Timberline medical personnel need to communicate with dispatch and 
ambulances.  

Scanning the UHF frequencies I found Timberline apparently only uses the 
464.650/469.650 pair for all their traffic - patrol, maintenance, ski 
school, etc.  At least during the Presidents' Day weekend.  I 
persistently scanned 450-470 MHz using my handheld scanner and my 
computer WINRADIO 1500 scanner.  I scanned both from the Timberline 
parking lot, the slopes and with a broadband amplifier to scan from my 
room in Davis, about 10 miles away during the day, evening, and early 
morning when the crews might be using other frequency pairs as they 
groomed the slopes.  Nada, zippo, zilch.   At one point I started 
hearing ski talk on 461 but quickly realized the transmissions were from 
the Canaan Valley ski slopes just down the valley.

If anybody knows of frequencies I missed, I would appreciate the 
information.

Ralph J.