In Pinewood Lake, Pole Hill neighborhoods we know that when it comes to mountain living, information is our best defense. To keep our community safe and informed, we rely on two primary pillars of communication: our GMRS Radio network and our neighborhood Slack workspace. While our GMRS radios are our lifeline for voice communication and backup during power outages, Slack serves as our digital hub for real-time data, resource sharing, and automated safety alerts. 1. The Perf

It was 6:41 PM, September 2nd. Angie and I were just about ready to sit down for dinner, when a random photo of mountains shows up on my phone. Looking closer I could see a plume of smoke. I reply, “Where is that?” The response sent chills. Stone Mountain Fire - 6:41PM “Coming home just now, at the end of Pinewood dam, looking NorthWest.” It was just over a year ago, July 18, 2024, several neighborhood Hams, led by Eric R. and Dennis B., installed a GMRS Repeater just North o

GMRS Repeater & Antenna Installation July 18, 2024 On July 18, 2024 , the Pinewood Lake community took a significant step toward enhancing our emergency preparedness. With invaluable assistance from several neighborhood HAM radio operators, we successfully installed a GMRS repeater  right here in our neighborhood. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is a licensed radio service in the US, offering more power and range than typical FRS radios, making it ideal for robust communi

On Thursday, April 3 at 1PM, neighbors took to the airwaves for a coordinated emergency communications exercise with the Colorado ARES and Larimer County's Office of Emergency Management . Ham Radio operators were positioned at the Larimer County Emergency Operations Center in Johnstown, Loveland Library, Big Elk Meadows, Berthoud, Estes Park and several other neighborhoods, including our Pinewood Lake. During a Zoom Call introduction the following emergency scenerio was pre

The Pinewood radio group got mentioned in a national radio periodical, thanks to resident Eric Richards.    From the February 2025 National Association for Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio Emergency Service Newsletter:    "The Boulder County, Colorado, ARES (BCARES) group held its annual meeting on January 27, 2025, in the county Sheriff's office meeting room. Fifteen members were present, plus a representative from the Sheriff's department, along with three others from the Of