[SIERA] May SIERA Meeting

[John Abrott]

  The National Pony Express Association is conducting a Re-Ride of the Pony
Express Trail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, June 9
thru 10, 2007.  This event commemorates the Pony Express of 1860-1861.  The
mail will enter Nevada on June 15th from Ibapah, Utah, and departs from
Carson City on June 18th. to California. 
  The re-ride is a 10-day, 24-hour a day, non-stop event by over 500 riders
and horses. The 1,966 mile route will be over the Pony Express National
Historic Trail from Missouri through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming,
Utah, and Nevada to California. It is the longest event held annually on a
historical trail in the nation, even surpassing the famed Iditarod.
  In 1989 the local Amateur Radio club SIERA (Sierra Intermountain Emergency
Radio Association) started providing communications for the Pony Express
Reride across the state of Nevada.  SIERA has been providing this service
every year since. 
  Each year Amateur Radio operators, mostly members of SIERA, support the
Pony express by providing radio communications.  For each sector of the
route across Nevada there is a local VHF net for communications within the
sector and to neighboring sectors. Whenever possible, the radio operators
follow the rider. When that is not possible, they wait at designated
locations, and when the pony arrives they then send radio messages to the
operator at the next accessible location. 
  Updates are sent from each sector on a regular basis to a series of ham
radio base operators in the Carson Valley.  When the sector is near the
Carson Valley, the communications to the monitoring station is by VHF.
Sectors in the mid to eastern portions of Nevada, are communicated by HF. 
  The radio operators report the location of the mail, as the riders' race
across Nevada following the original Pony Express route.  By tracking the
location of the mail, other riders know when to expect the mail at their
location.  In the event of an emergency for either the rider or the horse,
communicators can summon help. Using the GPS (Global Position System) and
maps, accurate locations are reported.
  This type of event allows the radio operators to use their radio equipment
in a field environment.  Portable power sources, antennas and radio
equipment are placed into operation to pass radio messages.  This event and
continuous training keep the amateur radio operators prepared for emergency
communications.
  The Pony Express met its demise with the telegraph.  Messages could be
sent across the states in a very short time by telegraph, versus days by way
of the pony.   Today, radio communications support the pony as it moves the
mail across Nevada.  
  The SIERA general meeting is on Thursday the 21st of May starting at 7:00
PM.  The meeting is held at the United Methodist Church on Centerville Lane,
Gardnerville, NV.
  Our guest speaker is Steve Notterman, President of the Nevada Division of
the Pony Express.  Steve gives a brief history of the pony express, and the
challenges they have today crossing Nevada.  Bill Massie N7NHP will follow
with the radio operator schedule for the re-ride.
  Every one is welcome to attend.  Bring your family and learn more about
the history of the Pony Express, and amateur radio support for the re-ride.
The coffee is fresh and hot.

John Abrott
KD7NHC
President SIERA