Case Study: Butte Meadows Field Ops (Race Checkpoints)

I’ve supported traffic control during fire evacuations, food distributions, and checkpoints for bike races, poker runs (off-road), and running events. One memorable deployment was a Loco Run in Butte Meadows near Chico, CA. At the time, most checkpoint stations had no cell service; only the start line on the mountaintop had signal. Down the hill we relied on GMRS for non-ham race officials and amateur radio for the ham team.

Comms setup

• Primary: GMRS handhelds for race staff; Amateur VHF/UHF/optional HF for net control and relays
• Power: 100W solar panel feeding a Jackery + Bioenno batteries for radios and handheld charging
• Charging: USB/12V for HTs; keep a DC fuse kit and spare jumpers

Radio Plan & Logs

We worked under an ICS-205 Incident Radio Communications Plan. At the checkpoint I kept an ICS-309 Station Log of traffic — mostly runner numbers, staffing updates, and missing-runner queries.

Blank forms (local downloads): ICS-205 · ICS-217A · ICS-309.

HT Relay Trick

Handhelds (walkie talkies) made exchanges easier with race officials. I could play audio from my 50 W mobile rig over an HT to the local checkpoint and get their reply from my HT audio into my mobile mic back to base. No long range needed — just easy operation for staff. Browse walkie talkies.

What worked — and what didn’t

• Window mosquito screens kept the bugs out and allowed audio in/out, but provided poor ventilation in the vehicle.
  Product I used: Universal Car Window Screens (ASIN B07C23GC63)
• Low gas = no cabin fan. I couldn’t safely run the car blower without risking the starter battery (lesson learned: FILL THE TANK).
• Solar + portable power kept radios and rechargeables alive all day/night.
• Heat management: Butte Meadows is cooler than Chico/Oroville but summer nights were still stifling. A rechargeable fan would’ve been a game changer. My 2025 pick: ONLYNEW Portable Rechargeable Fan (ASIN B0BRPZR3CZ)

Creature Comforts & Sanitation

• Bug spray: OFF! Deep Woods Repellent (ASIN B00DIXJT1W) — high demand, and it doubled as a cabin clear-out spray.
• Privacy tent: a pop-up tent used for porta-potty duty or as a changing room. Inside: LED lamp, TP, Lysol, and a soft-close step trash can (ASIN B07PD3YST7) for hygiene.
• Food: Shelf-stable cans + coffee kept morale up. My tiny stove worked, but today I’d pick:
  • GS-3400P Dual Fuel Stove (ASIN B01HQRD8EO) — butane/propane, more solid than my old unit.
  • Coleman Triton 2-Burner Grill (ASIN B09HN1C1YJ) — premium option with wind guards.
• Canopy weights: keep pop-ups and shelters anchored in gusty conditions.

For structured deployments, reference official forms like ICS-205 (Radio Comms Plan) and ICS-309 (Station Log).

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