Ponderosa Ridge south of Chama will be the location Saturday and June 28 of Field Day, a major exercise in emergency communication.
Ham radio operators from the High Desert Wireless Association will gather on the Ridge and attempt to communicate with as many ham stations as possible using portable power sources and temporary antennas.
The exercise lets ham operators sharpen their skills and operating procedures so they can be ready if they are needed to provide communication in an actual emergency.
Amateur radio operators are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communication during unexpected emergencies. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, amateur radio was often the only way people could communicate.
High Desert won the 2008 Field Day in the low-power operation category. Its station call letters are W5YA, and it is one of 23 New Mexico stations and almost 2,400 nationally.
There are over 650,000 amateur radio licensees in the United States and 2.5 million worldwide. To learn more about amateur radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org or www.arri.org.