Ham radio co-ordinates Arizona scout rescue

Authorities say a Phoenix Arizona Boy Scout troop had been rescued near the city of Prescott. This after radioing for help via amateur radio.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office says one troop became stranded in the Pine Mountain Wilderness. The scouts were reportedly close to running out of drinking water and one scout had fallen ill when they radioed for help.

According to a newspaper account, one troop leader was able to relay G-P-S coordinates to a Prescott resident who received the troop's call for assistance on his ham radio station. He in turn notified county authorities.

The scouts were rescued by a state Department of Public
Safety helicopter on Saturday night, September 25th. Authorities say the scouts and the their leaders were all in good condition and did not require medical attention.

The scouting troop included two adults and six children under the age of 15. They were in the mountains with other scout teams, learning to use signal mirrors in case of an emergency and climb different peaks to signal one another. But in the end it was ham radio rather than mirrors that lead to their rescue.

Due to the ages of those involved, no names or call signs were included in news stories on this Arizona mountain rescue.

Amateur Radio Newsline

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