Okay, we're essentially imminently into May Long. More than a few of the estimated 900 zillion campers expected in McLean Creek and Waiparous Valley recreation areas have already arrived. It would be nice if everyone who was going out there was there to just have good, clean fun, but often the partying gets out of hand and/or people do things beyond their skill levels (with or without alcohol involved). Because of this, law enforcement and other emergency responders are out in full force. RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, Conservation Officers, Fish & Wildlife, Sustainable Resource Development officers, and other law enforcement officials will be in their vehicles, on foot, in aircraft, and on off-road vehicles to enforce the laws and make sure everyone has a good weekend.
In the McLean Creek area
The RCMP repeater of the area is A15, which is part of the network for Cochrane detachment. If you haven't bothered to click on any links yet, RCMP A15 is 154.83 with tone 123.0.
Sustainable Resource Development in the area is on FireNet channel 129, off the Moose Mountain repeater. Its frequency is 168.795 tone 162.2. If for some reason Alberta Forest Service is called upon to deal with a wildland fire, they would use FireNet 109, which is 167.07 tone 173.8.
Fire response in the area is mainly handled by Alberta Forest Service (above) and Kananaskis Emergency Services, which operates on FireNet; if structural or vehicle fires or car crashes ensue, Redwood Meadows Emergency Services provides initial response before KES's attendance (since KES must respond up Hwy 40, along Hwy 1, down Hwy 22, and then down Hwy 66 to get into the area).
For all medical responses, FREMS is the primary EMS responder. It is entirely possible that if there is a major incident, Cochrane Fire EMS would respond as backup/assistance.
Of course, don't forget the provincial stuff such as STARS and Provincial Ambulance.
If you are going into the area, the emergency number is 9-1-1. Cell phones are somewhat spotty in the area, but there is a telephone at the McLean Creek Camper's Center on McLean Creek Tr, and also phones at the Elbow Visitor's Information Center on Hwy 66 at the park gates (east of McLean Creek), and at the Elbow Fire Base (which used to be the Ranger Station), across from Allen bill on Hwy 66 (west of McLean Creek). Please know your location; McLean Creek is off Hwy 66 south of Bragg Creek. (Also, please note that Hwy 22X is nowhere near Bragg Creek. Many people mistake Hwy 22 for Hwy 22X in this area. West of the Calgary city limits, only the 4-lane-wide part of the highway is 22X; the remainder is Hwy 22, all the way to Bragg Creek.)
In the Waiparous area
The RCMP repeater of the area is B2, which is part of the network for Cochrane detachment. They may or may not use A15 as well. Tac 9 is also used in simplex mode.
Sustainable Resource Development in the area is on FireNet channel 113, off the Mockingbird Hill Lookout repeater.
Fire response in the area is the responsibility of Bighorn Emergency Services. In addition to their VHF frequencies, their comms can be heard on Calgary Digital Radio channel C16 - talkgroup 400 - in order to link in to the dispatch center in Calgary.
For all medical responses, Cochrane Fire EMS is the primary EMS responder. Also note that the Fire portion of this agency could back-up Bighorn for fire responses into this area.
And as I said for McLean Creek, STARS and Provincial Ambulance are going to be very much valid and possible in the area.
Cell phone coverage in Waiparous is much better than in McLean. The emergency number is still, of course, 9-1-1. Knowing your area is again important. The main road up from Hwy 1A (west of Cochrane) is Hwy 940, also known as the Forestry Trunk Road. Major landmarks along this road are the village of Benchlands (where the Ghost Volunteer Fire Department, station #67, is located), the village of Waiparous Creek (which is quite a distance south of the actual camping/recreation sites), the "South Ghost" and "North Ghost" recreation areas, the "Cadet Camp", the "Bar C Ranch", and one of the most important ones to emergency responders, the "Gravel Pit". It would be VERY helpful to 9-1-1 operators if you could pin your location down to near one of these, or at least in between TWO of them, for the emergency responders to come to you.
Having said all that, the comms are going to be very busy from probably tomorrow (Thursday night) onwards through the entire weekend. If you're listening, be ready for some wild action on the airwaves. If you're going, please keep things calm and in control and have a good time!
In the McLean Creek area
The RCMP repeater of the area is A15, which is part of the network for Cochrane detachment. If you haven't bothered to click on any links yet, RCMP A15 is 154.83 with tone 123.0.
Sustainable Resource Development in the area is on FireNet channel 129, off the Moose Mountain repeater. Its frequency is 168.795 tone 162.2. If for some reason Alberta Forest Service is called upon to deal with a wildland fire, they would use FireNet 109, which is 167.07 tone 173.8.
Fire response in the area is mainly handled by Alberta Forest Service (above) and Kananaskis Emergency Services, which operates on FireNet; if structural or vehicle fires or car crashes ensue, Redwood Meadows Emergency Services provides initial response before KES's attendance (since KES must respond up Hwy 40, along Hwy 1, down Hwy 22, and then down Hwy 66 to get into the area).
For all medical responses, FREMS is the primary EMS responder. It is entirely possible that if there is a major incident, Cochrane Fire EMS would respond as backup/assistance.
Of course, don't forget the provincial stuff such as STARS and Provincial Ambulance.
If you are going into the area, the emergency number is 9-1-1. Cell phones are somewhat spotty in the area, but there is a telephone at the McLean Creek Camper's Center on McLean Creek Tr, and also phones at the Elbow Visitor's Information Center on Hwy 66 at the park gates (east of McLean Creek), and at the Elbow Fire Base (which used to be the Ranger Station), across from Allen bill on Hwy 66 (west of McLean Creek). Please know your location; McLean Creek is off Hwy 66 south of Bragg Creek. (Also, please note that Hwy 22X is nowhere near Bragg Creek. Many people mistake Hwy 22 for Hwy 22X in this area. West of the Calgary city limits, only the 4-lane-wide part of the highway is 22X; the remainder is Hwy 22, all the way to Bragg Creek.)
In the Waiparous area
The RCMP repeater of the area is B2, which is part of the network for Cochrane detachment. They may or may not use A15 as well. Tac 9 is also used in simplex mode.
Sustainable Resource Development in the area is on FireNet channel 113, off the Mockingbird Hill Lookout repeater.
Fire response in the area is the responsibility of Bighorn Emergency Services. In addition to their VHF frequencies, their comms can be heard on Calgary Digital Radio channel C16 - talkgroup 400 - in order to link in to the dispatch center in Calgary.
For all medical responses, Cochrane Fire EMS is the primary EMS responder. Also note that the Fire portion of this agency could back-up Bighorn for fire responses into this area.
And as I said for McLean Creek, STARS and Provincial Ambulance are going to be very much valid and possible in the area.
Cell phone coverage in Waiparous is much better than in McLean. The emergency number is still, of course, 9-1-1. Knowing your area is again important. The main road up from Hwy 1A (west of Cochrane) is Hwy 940, also known as the Forestry Trunk Road. Major landmarks along this road are the village of Benchlands (where the Ghost Volunteer Fire Department, station #67, is located), the village of Waiparous Creek (which is quite a distance south of the actual camping/recreation sites), the "South Ghost" and "North Ghost" recreation areas, the "Cadet Camp", the "Bar C Ranch", and one of the most important ones to emergency responders, the "Gravel Pit". It would be VERY helpful to 9-1-1 operators if you could pin your location down to near one of these, or at least in between TWO of them, for the emergency responders to come to you.
Having said all that, the comms are going to be very busy from probably tomorrow (Thursday night) onwards through the entire weekend. If you're listening, be ready for some wild action on the airwaves. If you're going, please keep things calm and in control and have a good time!
