4 - Islip Saddle

The ISLIP Saddle checkpoint is located approximately 18 miles from the run start on the Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2) and approximately 42 miles for the beginning of Hwy #2 at the 210 Fwy turn off in La Canada Flintridge. Driving time up Hwy 2 to ISLIP Saddle is about one hour. Elevation at ISLIP Saddle is about 6,700 ft. above MSL

Staffing time - On the air with Vincent gap and the packet network at 07:30 AM Saturday.  Off the air with Eagle’s Roost at about 14:30. Runner arrival cut off time is 13:05.

Since the station goes operational at 07:30 AM on Saturday we recommend setting up on Friday night. Otherwise a VERY early  (before daylight) arrival is required for setup.

Presently the amateur radio staffing is 5 persons.  We are able to enlist additional help with in and out runner logging by the run staff personnel who like to participate. The run staff coordinator for ISLIP Saddle is as ham and in past years has been a part of the AC-100 amateur radio operators at this check point.

This checkpoint is a flat paved parking lot. The North half-parking spots are ribboned off for checkpoint staffing and emergency vehicles. Runners will have been on the trail for 25.91 miles. They cross the highway and enter the checkpoint at the Far East end. Runners depart at the West End of the parking lot.

Amateur radio communications vehicles take the first two or three parking spots in the ribboned off area at the Far East end.  This is the best location for packet communications and voice communications with Eagle’s Roost. There are two-vault toilets at the Far West end of the parking lot. Click here for diagram of layout. It's deliberately sideways for better printing.

Voice Communications - Communications with Vincent Gap requires at least 25 watts and a 3-element beam on 2 meters. Voice communications with Eagle’s Roost is almost hand held but 5 watts to a 5/8-ground plane is employed. An additional 2 meters station on a 5/8-ground plane is used to reach Mt. Disappointment repeaters.

Packet - Linking to the database is via the Waterman Nodes. Both Water Hi and Water Lo have been used employing a 5 element 220 MHz vertical beam. Sometimes propagation permits a direct link with the data base station.

Click to enlarge