The Friendship Cruise Communications Site

This page is devoted to information for the amateur radio operator volunteers who will be supplying communications to the annual Friendship Cruise in southeastern Utah.

The 2011 Cruise is officially on. There was some doubt when the road to Mineral Bottom washed out in the fall of 2010, but it was rebuilt well ahead of the schedule first estimated to be possible. Pullout will again be at MGM Bottom. We will start bringing the site up to date in the next week or so (written in late April).

The Friendship Cruise provides a chance for boaters to see some of the incredible red-rock scenery of the Colorado Plateau country from the channels of Utah's two largest rivers, the Green and the Colorado. Utah's amateur radio operators use the HF spectrum as well as portable repeaters to communicate in and out of the deep-walled canyons. The river course is 184 miles long, and much of it is in gorges over 1000 feet deep. It begins at the state boat ramp in the town of Green River, Utah, follows the Green River downstream into Canyonlands National Park, and on to its confluence with the Colorado. It then follows the Colorado upstream to the town of Moab. (See the map page for more details about the course.)

The event is normally held on Memorial Day weekend. For 2011 that put it on May 27, 28, and 29, with some activity beginning on the 26^th.

As radio operators, we relay messages to and from rescue boats about emergency situations, to the trailer storage area about trailers that need to be taken somewhere other than the finish, and other information as needed regarding disabled boats, water conditions, fuel needs, etc.

The accompanying pages contain reference information and plans that we hope will be helpful to those participating. Most operators will want to take with them at least a copy of the course map (two formats are available) and the list of frequencies that will be in use.

Send corrections, additions, or suggestions regarding these pages to K7HFV@arrl.net