Mammoth Mtn. Ski Area Identifying Talkgroups

[officer_415]

Just to make it easier for people to see the info, possible June Mountain frequencies:

WNRU268

"June Mtn Ski Area"
856.5125
857.5125
858.5125
859.5125
860.5125

WRQE601

"Chalet"
854.1875
854.4375
854.5875
854.7375
861.0125
861.1625
861.3375
861.5125
861.6625
861.8375

"Rainbow"
854.1375
854.3375
854.5125
854.6625
861.0625
861.2375
861.3875
861.5625
861.7125
861.8625

 

[Cameron314]

Oops! I got confused with WRQE601, which is not held by Mammoth Mountain, but someone called KDJ Company, LLC. This is quite a find! I know where the Chalet site is, being the main lodge of the ski area. I will check where "Rainbow" is. Due to knee problems preventing me to ski "telemark" style I haven't skied at June since the 1995-1996 winter I don't remember the local names as well as I used to. Google Earth, here I come!

I will be programming these frequencies in my 325P2 before my January visit to June Lake. I will park in the same place as I can see all of the ski area from there. I wonder why this is licensed to this other entity?

I do a little free heeling myself.

KDJ seems to be owned by the dealer that sold them the system. My guess is June didn't need as many users and was the better site so a deal was made. It's interesting to note that that the old system was licensed kind of the same with part it having SMR licensing. I know a bunch of Vail owned resorts in CO gave all their licenses up a number of years ago to a SMR and just operates on their system.

 

[es93546]

I do a little free heeling myself.

KDJ seems to be owned by the dealer that sold them the system. My guess is June didn't need as many users and was the better site so a deal was made. It's interesting to note that that the old system was licensed kind of the same with part it having SMR licensing. I know a bunch of Vail owned resorts in CO gave all their licenses up a number of years ago to a SMR and just operates on their system.

I wonder why MMSA made sure the old frequencies got licensed on Mammoth Mtn. Summit and June Mtn.? They went through and cancelled many licenses at more or less the same time so that they didn't have so many on their list. They made sure, however, to keep the old system licensed. I guess I would have to talk with their radio tech, which I'm reluctant to do fearing that he would know their is so much interest in people listening to their systems.

The lat/longs for the new system at June Mtn. are spot on. The one at the Chalet locates to the peak of the roof of the building. The "Rainbow" location comes out at a bare spot near the top of Chair J6 on Rainbow Ridge. This site has a view of Mammoth Mountain that would include all the other radio sites on the mountain. Thus an intertie is possible.

I'm going to program my 325P2, but won't have the LCN numbers. I wonder who came up with those for the three Mammoth Mtn. sites. I wouldn't know how to come up with those. Some techy obviously visited the ski area to come up with those. When I monitor the new system at Mammoth Mountain from my home by manually going through each frequency the voice is drowned out by a data stream. So if the new system at June Mtn. is operational I won't be able to figure out much.

This new system at June Mtn. is overcapacity for the amount of traffic I've heard at June Mtn. over the years. 9 repeaters at two sites, which would allow for 18 simultaneous conversations. Highly unlikely! I wonder if they will be tying in with the rest of the system at Mammoth full time. Some talkgroups at Mammoth, like ski patrol and lift maintenance are already very busy, whereas June Mtn. is not. They have a fraction of the number of chairlifts, ski runs and ski patrol personnel. All of this is very interesting!

 

[Cameron314]

I wonder why MMSA made sure the old frequencies got licensed on Mammoth Mtn. Summit and June Mtn.? They went through and cancelled many licenses at more or less the same time so that they didn't have so many on their list. They made sure, however, to keep the old system licensed. I guess I would have to talk with their radio tech, which I'm reluctant to do fearing that he would know their is so much interest in people listening to their systems.

The lat/longs for the new system at June Mtn. are spot on. The one at the Chalet locates to the peak of the roof of the building. The "Rainbow" location comes out at a bare spot near the top of Chair J6 on Rainbow Ridge. This site has a view of Mammoth Mountain that would include all the other radio sites on the mountain. Thus an intertie is possible.

I'm going to program my 325P2, but won't have the LCN numbers. I wonder who came up with those for the three Mammoth Mtn. sites. I wouldn't know how to come up with those. Some techy obviously visited the ski area to come up with those. When I monitor the new system at Mammoth Mountain from my home by manually going through each frequency the voice is drowned out by a data stream. So if the new system at June Mtn. is operational I won't be able to figure out much.

This new system at June Mtn. is overcapacity for the amount of traffic I've heard at June Mtn. over the years. 9 repeaters at two sites, which would allow for 18 simultaneous conversations. Highly unlikely! I wonder if they will be tying in with the rest of the system at Mammoth full time. Some talkgroups at Mammoth, like ski patrol and lift maintenance are already very busy, whereas June Mtn. is not. They have a fraction of the number of chairlifts, ski runs and ski patrol personnel. All of this is very interesting!

The WRQE601 on June is likely not just for them, it's a SMR so it will likely have other customers on it.

 

[es93546]

I programmed the June Mtn. Ski Area frequencies into my 325P2. I assumed the color codes are all going to be 0, like the Mammoth Mtn. Ski Area is configured. The big question is, how do we figure out the LCN's for the June Mtn. system.

 

[es93546]

I do a little free heeling myself.

KDJ seems to be owned by the dealer that sold them the system. My guess is June didn't need as many users and was the better site so a deal was made. It's interesting to note that that the old system was licensed kind of the same with part it having SMR licensing. I know a bunch of Vail owned resorts in CO gave all their licenses up a number of years ago to a SMR and just operates on their system.

I tired of downhill skiing or Alpine skiing. Cross country skiers call Alpine skiers "yoyo skiers" as they spend the day going up and down on a rope. Point of clarification: the drive system on a chairlift or gondola is not called a line or cable, it is a wire rope. The individual stands of wire a spun together like a rope is spun. Anyway, I like to travel when I'm on skis, not just go down a groomed slope. I spent my time at ski areas telemarking in order to make better turns in the backcountry. Due to an injury, I only have 20% of my ACL in the right knee. The joint was challenged to perform telemark turns and just plain wore out by the time I reached the young age of 45. I didn't return to downhill skiing as I never really enjoyed it. I hate how tightly you have to cram into downhill boots and the fact you really can't walk in them. I kept on backcountry skiing on backcountry skis until the young age of 56 when the legs could not take that anymore so I took up road bicycling and that suits me just fine, a good cardio workout, good for leg conditioning, but with no weight pounding on the knees.

It sounds like you get around and do some downhill skiing. At one time I enjoyed going to new ski areas in different states, just to see new country. However that was all in my 20's. When I turned 30 I began to enjoy cross country skiing much more.

 

[Cameron314]

I tired of downhill skiing or Alpine skiing. Cross country skiers call Alpine skiers "yoyo skiers" as they spend the day going up and down on a rope. Point of clarification: the drive system on a chairlift or gondola is not called a line or cable, it is a wire rope. The individual stands of wire a spun together like a rope is spun. Anyway, I like to travel when I'm on skis, not just go down a groomed slope. I spent my time at ski areas telemarking in order to make better turns in the backcountry. Due to an injury, I only have 20% of my ACL in the right knee. The joint was challenged to perform telemark turns and just plain wore out by the time I reached the young age of 45. I didn't return to downhill skiing as I never really enjoyed it. I hate how tightly you have to cram into downhill boots and the fact you really can't walk in them. I kept on backcountry skiing on backcountry skis until the young age of 56 when the legs could not take that anymore so I took up road bicycling and that suits me just fine, a good cardio workout, good for leg conditioning, but with no weight pounding on the knees.

It sounds like you get around and do some downhill skiing. At one time I enjoyed going to new ski areas in different states, just to see new country. However that was all in my 20's. When I turned 30 I began to enjoy cross country skiing much more.

I still always enjoyed alpine but love tele inbounds and out. Being older then a college kid now I really enjoy a good resort with a couple of hours out and then a nice dinner and drinks before sleeping in a real bed. I can still ski anything on the hill and still sometimes get ask where I patrol. Something about the stance and carrying your pole both in one hand. lol

 

[es93546]

The big question remains, how do we figure out the LCN's for the June Mtn. system?

 

[es93546]

I still always enjoyed alpine but love tele inbounds and out. Being older then a college kid now I really enjoy a good resort with a couple of hours out and then a nice dinner and drinks before sleeping in a real bed. I can still ski anything on the hill and still sometimes get ask where I patrol. Something about the stance and carrying your pole both in one hand. lol

To be fair, alpine skiers call, or at least used to, cross country skiers as "pinheads" due to the old three pin bindings. With the newer "NNN" or New Nordic Normal, the pinhead nickname isn't accurate anymore. I opted for cable bindings on my telemark skis. Fewer moving parts to go wrong and when on overnight trips I would carry a couple of spare cables.

 

[officer_415]

The big question remains, how do we figure out the LCN's for the June Mtn. system?

I think you need software like DSD+ or a Uniden scanner with LCN finder. Maybe @crush1 can help 😉

 

[es93546]

Submitted the following talkgroups just now:

1032 Sports School Eagle Lodge
1026 Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures

I'm not 100% positive on the Snowmobile Adventures talkgroup, just 98% sure. Several conversations and their timing indicates the snowmobiles. They talk of going uphill in certain locations. No one else goes uphill.

EDIT: I also updated Talkgroup 1025 to edit name "Sierra STAR Golf Course" instead of "Sierra Golf Course."

 

[es93546]

One talkgroup I logged on a day I could not be next to the radio and computer is 1023. The Race Department is Talkgroup 1022. I think 1023 is the race que, which would be the coordination of when to start racers from the gate and observing that they have made all the gates in slalom races. For the crowds up here today, I though I had opportunity to confirm, but there is heavy snow and wind, so most of the mountain is shut down.

 

[es93546]

Tonight was the annual Mammoth Mtn. Ski Area "Night of Lights" event. This is an event with snowmobiles with special lighting, snowcats with flashing headlights and beacons and skiers with torches coming down a slope uphill of Canyon Lodge in different formations. The latter part of the show consists of fireworks up and down the same slope. It's quite a show and one of the best events the mountain puts on. My wife and I watched the whole think on the computer at home, snug with a pellet stove fire just downstairs. I was running ProScan's history logging function and recorded all the communications during the event.

I suspected what number series would be used for the ski area's special event channels. Here is the list of that number series:

1000 Operations
2000 Unknown. I've logged Talkgroup 2001 and have heard what I think June Mtn. traffic.
3000 Events
4000 Tamarack Lodge and Cross Country Ski Center
5000 Mammoth Mtn. Inn
6000 Juniper Springs Lodge

I hear the following events talkgroups being used or keyed up tonight.

3001 Events 1
3002 Events 2
3004 Events 4
3006 Events 6
3008 Events 8
3009 Events 9
3010 Events 10

I made a database submission of these.

I did not hear the talkgroups in between these and can presume they would correspond to at least a 10 talkgroup list of event channels, but won't add them to the database until I hear them being used or keyed up. The mountain has a lot of special events all year long, except the fall when they have to maintain all the chairlifts and gondolas. They have mountain bike events, obstacle runs and winter race events, some of those quite well known.

This is the last weekend until the big crowd of guests show up, at least for the size home we have. I won't be much of any monitoring starting in a couple of days. Everyone is leaving a couple of days after Christmas so I will be able to monitor the New Year's traffic, which is always a big crowd. We got a pretty good snowstorm today so there is plenty of snow for that week, although more snow is welcomed.

I'm hoping someone with that magical software will show up and determine the LCN's for the June Mtn. sites. I will drive up there to monitor some Saturday in January.

 

[kayn1n32008]

One talkgroup I logged on a day I could not be next to the radio and computer is 1023. The Race Department is Talkgroup 1022. I think 1023 is the race que, which would be the coordination of when to start racers from the gate and observing that they have made all the gates in slalom races. For the crowds up here today, I though I had opportunity to confirm, but there is heavy snow and wind, so most of the mountain is shut down.

Just wanted to stop by your thread and say I've been following your progress on mapping the fleet. Your hard work hasn't gone un noticed, and although I doubt I will ever get to experience Mammoth, it's been neat watching your progress.

Many years ago, when I was fresh into ham radio and I got my first dual band radio, I would listen to my local ski resort. Back then they had 2 analogue UHF repeaters. I haven't monitored them in close to 3 decades, and based on licensing, it looks like they have moved to DMR and added a third RF channel. No, this resort is not nearly the size of mammoth, but man I do miss those care free days of my youth.

 

[es93546]

Just wanted to stop by your thread and say I've been following your progress on mapping the fleet. Your hard work hasn't gone un noticed, and although I doubt I will ever get to experience Mammoth, it's been neat watching your progress.

Many years ago, when I was fresh into ham radio and I got my first dual band radio, I would listen to my local ski resort. Back then they had 2 analogue UHF repeaters. I haven't monitored them in close to 3 decades, and based on licensing, it looks like they have moved to DMR and added a third RF channel. No, this resort is not nearly the size of mammoth, but man I do miss those care free days of my youth.

Thank you very much. I too, had to give up skiing, one of the things you have to accept as you get older. My knees are the primary reason. I tore my right ACL in high school and that eventually led to both knees having arthritis. I can't even hike anymore because of the knee pain and weakness going downhill in loose dirt and pumice. I used to ski with a handheld scanner nearly everywhere I skied. It was tough finding the frequencies because of the unavailability of frequency information for private businesses. I know there are scanner hobbyists who ski Mammoth with a handheld. I'm trying to figure out this system for myself to know what is going on, but also for others who don't have enough time in Mammoth Lakes to figure it out.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Thank you very much. I too, had to give up skiing, one of the things you have to accept as you get older. My knees are the primary reason. I tore my right ACL in high school and that eventually led to both knees having arthritis. I can't even hike anymore because of the knee pain and weakness going downhill in loose dirt and pumice. I used to ski with a handheld scanner nearly everywhere I skied. It was tough finding the frequencies because of the unavailability of frequency information for private businesses. I know there are scanner hobbyists who ski Mammoth with a handheld. I'm trying to figure out this system for myself to know what is going on, but also for others who don't have enough time in Mammoth Lakes to figure it out.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments.

I moved to the prairies, where skiing options are much more limited. It sucks your knees gave up on you. I really wish I had gotten Into working on the operations side of ski resorts when I was fresh out of high school, and work/traveled skiing/snowboarding. Oh well, such as life.

 

[nasko]

When I was last at Mammoth (April 2024) for a ski race the following TGs were used:

1022 - Race 1
1023 - Race 2

The naming is my own, but 1022 was the primary race coordination channel. I think the ski racing school has a few TGs of their own, possibly in the 102x range, but didn't have more time to explore.
I hope this is helpful.

 

[officer_415]

One talkgroup I logged on a day I could not be next to the radio and computer is 1023. The Race Department is Talkgroup 1022. I think 1023 is the race que, which would be the coordination of when to start racers from the gate and observing that they have made all the gates in slalom races. For the crowds up here today, I though I had opportunity to confirm, but there is heavy snow and wind, so most of the mountain is shut down.

When I was last at Mammoth (April 2024) for a ski race the following TGs were used:

1022 - Race 1
1023 - Race 2

The naming is my own, but 1022 was the primary race coordination channel. I think the ski racing school has a few TGs of their own, possibly in the 102x range, but didn't have more time to explore.
I hope this is helpful.

I've added these to the DB as Race 1/2 for now.

 

[es93546]

When I was last at Mammoth (April 2024) for a ski race the following TGs were used:

1022 - Race 1
1023 - Race 2

The naming is my own, but 1022 was the primary race coordination channel. I think the ski racing school has a few TGs of their own, possibly in the 102x range, but didn't have more time to explore.
I hope this is helpful.

Thanks, I haven't been monitoring for 9 days while we had houseguests for the holidays. The last of them left right after dinner tonight. They wanted to drive at night for some reason, even though we offered them at least one more night.

I will be listening for any name they give these two channels. I just heard traffic on "Slope Maintenance" that a race is to be conducted tomorrow and this might be the time for figuring out a lot of things. Town occupancy is up to 90% and use of the mountain is going to be very high. We could have the entire town booked by New Year's Eve. A good time to hear lots of action.

 

[es93546]

Ok, no races of consequence today so I discovered nothing regarding the Race 1 and Race 2 talkgroups.

Here is a new discovery, Talkgroup 1012 is for employee guided tours of the mountain. Groups sign up depending on level of skiing.

This new radio system has a lot of talkgroups for functions that did not have talkgroups in the past. I now have 25 of the 40 main Mammoth Mountain Ski Area talkgroups identified.

I inadvertently discovered I had the Main Lodge and Canyon Lodge sports school talkgroups reversed. What is listed as the Main Lodge is actually the Canyon Lodge sports school and vs. versa. I've made database submissions for all of the above.