For one weekend each September, we make the two-hour journey to the tiny town near Lake Wenatchee and to the mountains that surround it. The fall colors are just beginning, peeking through the sometimes-gritty Plain Dust and clouds left by the whining motorbikes. For fifty hours and change, we swat away the bees, stay awake far too long, string long lines of cable and gear, and gather to support some of the most amazing runners you will ever meet, pursuing their dreams and a small chunk of granite carrying the words, “Plain 100.”
When I began my journey as an amateur radio operator, I quickly learned there were many paths, many interests. Emergency Communications drew my heart. Certainly, it is a special way to serve my community, offering a precious gift when The Big One disrupts everything. The processes and drills and mindset made me glad. But it was the professionalism and people of the Snohomish ACS group that kept me engaged.
Why do I volunteer to support the Plain 100 Endurance Runs?
Mentorship. Plain 100 gives me the chance to learn from very bright and experienced people who are skilled in their craft and are willing to coach me and help me learn. This year, I watched a ham of 30 years coach a first timer in the proper approach to use a multimeter to diagnose some tricky issues with power distribution. These moments happen because we have a lot of time working together on similar and important tasks; that is when the opportunities to learn are most powerful.
Skills. In one weekend, I get to help set up stations, configure radios, gain confidence in messaging and net control, build my radio ears. This year, a new ham got this first time as net control under the mentorship of the comms lead. By the end of his shift, he sounded like he had been doing this for years. The chance to be a lead and develop the broader skills of running an entire unit.
Trust. Knowing the people behind the voice on the radio greatly helps your radio work. Especially when the situation is complex and frustrating, the trust and understanding you have with the folks on the other end soothes the communication that is at the heart of our work. Plain 100 gives me hours (and hours) of “eyeball” time with ACS comrades that I cannot get in any other way.
Broader vision. Plain 100 has broadened my understanding of EmComm. Certainly, skill and discipline with communication tools and protocols is critical and is pushed as we operate in the mountains. But that is only part of the job. As hams, we are called to do whatever is needed in the moment to assist. Transporting people, serving food, showing compassion to someone who just had to drop, cleaning up the mess. I learn to lean into the totality of the job.
Preparedness. One of the skills in preparedness is having the right set of kit for the task at hand. Having enough but not too much. When I first did the Plain 100, my SUV was filled with all sorts of extra stuff. This year, my Go Kit has become very efficient. I could camp in my Bronco Sport with just the right stuff for my assignment and support work. And I know that next year, I will be better equipped to deal with bees.
Stories. The stories that come from 30 people working in all sorts of difficult and interesting circumstances are plain fun and stand over the years. Each person has their own stories that we will swap over the years. I think of the time Erik and I got trapped by a fallen tree and had to be rescued by a five foot nothing National Forest worker with 36-inch bar chain saw who made short work of that tree. Scott and his infamous steaks. Learning that both ends of the coax need to be properly attached. The guy who decided to take up running this year and won the Plain 100K.
For so many reasons, Plain 100 is one of the most important events for Snohomish ACS. More than a race, it is part of how we build up ourselves, our team, and our infrastructure.
I hope you take advantage of this in future years.
Jim Trott K7JRT