We also have a club laptop and uhf/vhf mobile radio and handhelds, and an HF portable radio nd PACTOR modem that can be deployed for operation back to Ranger Park or other gateways.
I have used the HF network a lot while camping, and it works great. It is also used by EMBC, mostly in peer-peer mode. It isn't hard to get started - a radio and the RMS Express email program and a TNC modem or sound card.
For more info, checkout www.winlink.org or contact me.
Doug, VE7EPT