On Oct 4th members of Juneau County ARES/RACES deployed to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in Vernon County to assist the Vernon County ARES/RACES in providing communications support for the Dam Challenge Triathlon, along with members from Richland County and Monroe County. The communications trailer  provided by Richland County  was the main communications hub for the event. The terrain with is rolling hills is a communications nightmare  and it did not disappoint. Cell phone usage was impossible in most locations and radio traffic was a combination of simplex and repeater.  Vernon County ARES/RACES setup a portable repeater prior to the start of the event.

Participants  started the event by canoeing down the Kickapoo River, then bicycled  on a course with plenty of hills, curves and Amish buggy’s. Then the participants enjoyed a three mile run, before crossing the finish line.