2025 Mountain Mamma 2nd email

[Butch Washer]

Hello Ham-mers,

Things are starting to roll downhill for 2025 MMRBC!!

Please accept my apologies if you get this email twice.

We have had a pretty good response so far this year, but I don't want to leave anyone out that may be interested in helping.

First, thank you to all that have already expressed interest in helping out this year by saying YES/ Maybe.

I have 8 YES's, 1 Maybe so far.

To Confirm the YES's:
Butch Washer   XL
Jerry Moats    M
Larry Burns    XL
John Chevalaz  M
Ray Albers     L
Lenny Vincent  L
Dayton Haugh   XL
Chris Horne    L+L

1 Maybe:
Riley Chandler  XL

If I left your name off and you sent me a YES, please let me know.

All First timers, have NO FEAR!!! We do this by the seat of our pants. Every year something is a bit different, but we get'er done and have fun!!! LOL

Here is the information for the ride:

The ride will be Saturday August 2, 2025, and starts at 0800.

We will gather at the Highland County Public School at 0700 that morning to start assigning tactical call signs and places in the ride.

Understand that places in the ride will change as the ride progresses due to bike break downs and other situations. The ride should last until about 5-6pm at the latest.

!!But!! If you need to leave early, that is fine, just let us know Saturday morning and we can plan for it. If you need to arrive late, that is fine as well, let us know now so that we can plan ahead too. ANY amount of help you can provide for this is much appreciated.

Lodging is scarce in Highland and there may not be a place to stay available here. Check here, but you may need to look in Staunton, VA for a hotel if needed.

...Camping is available at the school Friday night before the ride for anyone interested in camping. The showers and bathrooms at the pool, next to the school, will be open for camper's use. As always, I'll be sleeping in my car either in the parking lot or the camping area Friday night.

If you are not familiar with the Mtn Momma, it offers ride routes of 27, 53, 100km (~62 miles), 67, and 100 miles all at the same time, with overlapping routes. Especially the 53 mile, 100km, 67 & 100 mile.

More details: GPS Data and Printable Maps for the rides are on the website:
http://highlandcountyrecreation.org/mountain-mama-road-bike-challenge.html

I also have some printed maps from previous years.

Equipment Need:

You will need a 25 watt or higher mobile radio with an outside antenna for this ride. Most of the routes will be in very rural areas on the fringe of the repeaters.
...A Dual-Band Radio may also help as we are using some Cross-banding for the real Fringe areas, as well as possibly a relay station.

Please have the following frequencies programmed into your radio:

147.180+ 100.0  Main Repeater
147.345+ 179.9 Secondary Repeater
146.520 SIMPLEX frequency will only be needed under special situations.

**More details on the Crossband and other Frequencies will be in future emails!!**

Last year we used APRS for the 2nd time and it seemed to be a big help again. If you have an APRS transmitter, you might want to dust it off.
More info on this will come in future emails.

Talk-in: Friday evening and Saturday morning will be the 147.180 repeater.

I'll be monitoring on Friday and Jerry or someone else will be monitoring on Saturday.

If you have any specific questions about the ride please feel free to ask me.

Please provide your t-sizes if you decide to say YES. We will probably get t-shirts again this year.

Thank you very much for considering helping us out in this local fundraising event. Please consider this and let me know if you will be able to help.

Also pass this along to other hams that may be interested in helping.

73!!!

Butch N5SMQ/ Jerry WD4ITN/ Larry KM4TDC