Last Appleseed for 2008!

[SamD]

The Alamogordo NM Appleseed was the last for 2009.

Alamogordo provided fantastic weather to aid us in making this Appleseed a great success
Our total annual snowfall of 2" came on Friday night and aided by the 31 deg. daytime high temp and 25-35mph winds(gusting to 47), Saturday provided a test of persistence for any Rifleman. 14 on the line.

1 new Rifleman joined the ranks on Sunday and I'm sure he will be here on the board to join us soon.
Steven, our youngest shooter was real pleasure to work with, and even without a properly sized rifle, is effective to 100 yards .  A pretty serious young man. We didn't have him doing the transitions, but he was down there on that very cold ground, hammering out 2 and 8, making predictable hits, Rifleman's cadence and making his times, SAFELY.    I am looking forward to spending some range time with over the next few years.  His dad joined us for the IBC, and will be wearing an Orange Hat soon.

We all learned a lot and there are several good New Mexico men and women well on their way to Rifleman.

Thank you Ashrn03, TaosGlock, BlueFeather, AZRedhawk and esp AzGromit for making this happen.

NM is well on it's way, Come join us in April at the Whittington Center in Raton.

Sam

[Wheeler44]

 Sam, Ya got me feelin' like Rip VanWinkle.  I sure hope that ya mean "last shoot for 2008" 'cause if I missed a whole year I'm gonna be P.O.ed

[Wade]

Sam, Ya got me feelin' like Rip VanWinkle.  I sure hope that ya mean "last shoot for 2008" 'cause if I missed a whole year I'm gonna be P.O.ed

Yawn,,, What Have I been stuck in Denver that Long ,same weekend I worked with 2 guys from CO things(imho)are looking good for CO this next year.

Wade

[SamD]

Yeah all you RIPS missed whole year

Corrected

Sam

[Sistema1927]

Beautiful weather indeed!

It was so cold on Saturday that during the ball & dummy drill I was unable to tell with 100% certainty that my son wasn't flinching due to the fact that he was shivering too much.  We had a blast, and intend to continue to build on what we learned.  I have been shooting since I was 8, to include some competition in my younger years, but I learned a few tricks that shrunk my groups.

We had to get back to Albuquerque on Saturday night, but after a good Mexican dinner in Tularosa we saw a huge Oryx on the side of the road between Carrizozo and San Antonio.  Better to see him on the side of the road, since you wouldn't want to hit one of those beasts with your truck.

Thanks to all for putting on a fun, informative, and safe shoot.

[TaosGlock]

The "Land of Enchantment" hosted the Appleseed Project's last shoot of the 2008 season in Alamogordo. What an experience it was!
The beautiful weather was typical for New Mexico in December.
AZGromit's superb job as SB and instructor was apparent from the get go!

Friday evening a typical mini snow/ice storm came thru southern New Mexico.
While the morning temps were 21 degrees according to my trucks computerized thermometer, the sky was a beautiful purple-blue color.
The words "Valley Forge" were jokingly bandied about more than once thru out the weekend.
ashrn03 scrapes the ice off just before the sun rises. Note the cold weather gear.


The base of the shooting range, thankfully, is on the valley floor, well below the lofty summit of 12,005 foot Sierra Blanca,
southern New Mexico's highest peak.


Once at the range, we removed a few ice encrusted tumbleweeds and swept the snow from the firing line and set up the target backers.
BlueFeather and SamD don their cold weather gear. That famous warm New Mexico sun finally rose, just as 14 eager shooters showed up.
We had a father and son team, a husband, wife and daughter team and groups of best friends show up.
We had a preacher and his son show up and a father with two of his daughters also present.
What a fantastic group of Americans all hungry to learn about their heritage and marksmanship!


The gray cold quickly yielded to New Mexico's traditional blue sky.
While noontime temps reached nearly 50, a slight desert wind caused the wind chill factor to hover just above freezing.
Below, BlueFeather gives the group "the first strike of the match" of the  American History portion of Appleseed. SamD followed up with "the second strike of the match".
ashrn03 later gave "the third strike of the match".
Shooters quickly learn that Appleseed is an American Heritage program with an outstanding Traditional Rifle Marksmanship program.


Below, SamD in the black hat gives the "second strike of the match."


This mother and daughter pair up for the famous "Ball and Dummy" drill. Shooters pair up to detect and cure any shooting problems.
One shooter role models the "coach" while the other shoots.    Then they switch off. 
ashrn03 is shown adding some extremely valuable points of instruction, as he did throughout the weekend.


Another "Ball and Dummy" drill pic. The snow and cold persisted but so did we. In fact, we overcame it as a Rifleman does.
AZRedhawk44's excellent instructing got this pair of shooters quickly advancing. The "shooter" in the pic made "Rifleman".
The "coach"  later shot one of the finest Stage 1 standing targets I have ever witnessed. Congrats!


SamD calls the line on the "standing" portion of a typical course of fire. 
Our youngest shooter Steven, was in prone. He adapted and overcame the 2 cold but beautiful days to the end.
His persistence served as great encouragement to the other shooters. Good job Steven!
And thanks to his dad David (to his left) who brought this fine young man.
BTW, this pair camped out too!
Appleseeder's are truly a cut above the norm.


Here young Steven is just starting to get out of prone while shooting the "Hits Count" target.
The "Riflemans Quarter Mile" was near the ridge on the skyline and all the shooters present would have kept the "Redcoats" running.


A father (who made rifleman) and daughter:


The red hue of the setting sun and the long shadows signal the end of the final day of the 2008 year for the Appleseed Project.
AZRedhawk44 instructs to the end:


The last Redcoat target being shot with 3 shooters from Las Cruces in the foreground.
AZRedhawk44 watches this end of the line, as do SamD and AZGromit on the far end of the line. 


A pic of the seasons last shot being fired at the 2008 Appleseed Project! Way to go everyone!


On the drive back to Las Cruces, BlueFeather and I watched the sun set on both another successful Appleseed season and the mighty 12,005 foot summit of Sierra Blanca Peak.


And finally, a mucho big thanks to SamD for letting the instructors stay at his place!
The warmth and hospitality he and his wife shown was exceptional!
He also paid the range fees!
TG

[voortrekker]

BUURRRRRRR!!!!

Those pics look cold considering I am in central TX!

Fantastic job New Mexico!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you AzGromit, AzRedhawk44, TaosGlock, BlueFeather, ashrn03 and SamD for your time and effort whilst instructing.


AND, thank you very much for the terrific pics too!     



brett out.

[Dirty Bill]

Great pictures. I learned a lot from them. Thanks.

[The Machine]

Congratulations Sam and crew, good way to finish off '08--with a bang!

Very nice pics, although a bear to download with dial up, worth the wait though. That kind of weather probably reminds you of WV in Jan/Feb, doesn't it Sam? The scenery is beautiful with the mountain in the background.

It's encouraging to see the young folks turn out like that. Hopefully, they were inspired enough to bring some of their friends to future ASs.

As an added bonus, I noticed you had a participant that was a lefty, like myself. Dam southpaws...we're always in our right mind!

[WestTx]

You all had all the fun! Congrats on a great shoot. Wouldn't expect anything less from that crowd.

[Fred]

   Great report!

   Only I'm a little confused.

   Did you guys say it was COLD?

   I'm confused, because I'm being told that folks in WI, MN, and IL (among other states) go in the house in late Oct-early Nov, and don't come out again until sometime in early May.

   Because of "the cold".

   Is it possible that these good people have been misinformed? That people can go out and shoot, "in the cold"?

   If so, perhaps this "last of the year" AS is even more important for the flaming beacon of a message it sends to other states, as wondering Americans began to venture out of their warm, snug houses, rifles in hand, to find out that you can shoot "in the cold" - can not only shoot - but learn how to shoot accurately - and learn some American history and heritage - when it's cold.

    Can this be so? Can this really happen?

    You guys mention "Valley Forge". Is that because it was "cold" at VF?

    Would this mean that people in, say, Wisconsin, can have an Appleseed in March? Maybe even - shudder! - in February? Or January?

    If so, you guys in NM have done a signal service for your fellow Americans in the "cold belt" by showing them that Appleseed can be done in "the cold".

    But first, maybe we should reassure these timid northerners a bit. How many of your shooters suffered frostbite? If less than 10%, that would be a plus.

    How many wandered off in the snow, disoriented and confused? Again, if it was less than ten percent, that would be a plus.

    Ten percent frostbite and ten percent "disappeared without a trace" - and, assuming no overlap between the two - means that 80% of your shooters made it thru, and got back home.

     Seems to me if you can save a nation with casualties of 20% and under, you should be out there, Appleseeding.

     In "the cold".

     I can hear the collective sigh of relief from the northern states: "We can Appleseed all winter! We don't have to be home-bound, frustrated at doing nothing all winter! Thank you, New Mexico! THANK YOU!"

     You NM guys really do deserve thanks. Like the Founders, whose example may just save this country a second time, your "end of the year" AS may just create ripples far beyond what you ever thought, in corners of the country you may never visit.

     Heartfelt thanks! [They are tough nuts to crack. But maybe your example will do the trick. ]

[Nickle]

Fred, ask the Northeast team about "COLD" on Feb 9th. We've got an Appleseed in Mass Feb 7/8 and should be thawed back out (and home) by the 9th. I even get to run an Army Guard range 10/11 January, in northern VT.

Actually, I spent a couple of years down in the Alamogordo area (El Paso, isn't that close, but anywhere is a distance down around there), and I never thought it got THAT cold.

For most of us in the snow belt, the real problem is snow depth, more than temperature.

[Old Glory!]

Wow!  NM, you are inspirational.     Pictures do tell all. 

I'm the one from WI who didn't want to go lay prone on the ground for the weekend in the SUMMER with the bugs, heat, SUNburn, earplugs, etc., but went along anyway to be with my husband.  Now Fred wants me to not only go out in the snow and the cold and the wind to shoot, but I should be expected to set up an AS and get OTHER fellow Americanus duffusus to JOIN me.     Sheesh Fred,     Here I go, out of my comfort zone again.

Nickle, I don't think Fred is going to let us off the hook because of the depth of the snow.  Just remember to demonstrate the seated position; it works well for shooting OVER SNOW.  Sometimes the standing position is required for shooting over snow DRIFTS. 

For NOW, NM holds a strapping hardy stalwart "cold" AS award! 

Ohgeeez!


 

[AFTERMATH]

Sounds like I missed another great Appleseed.

Dang job.  Dang bills.

I would love an Appleseed up here in frozen MN.

Tomorrow it's supposed to warm up to 5 degrees, and the wind is only going to be about 15mph.  There's no more Appleseeds but, I've got the day off, and that sounds like a great day of shooting to me. 
I'm going to drag my cousin out of bed, shovel out a couple of shooting lanes and I'm going to teach him how to shoot.  I might even be able to convince his GF to participate as well.

I guess we'll have to shoot the .30's to keep our fingers thawed.

[Fred]

    OK, you northerners, here's some Appleseed help for you!

    If you can shovel out a "couple" of shooting lanes, you can shovel out three.

    If you can shovel out three, you can shovel out four.

    If you can shovel out four, you can shovel out five...

    Can you figure out the rest?

    And can you hear the guys at Valley Forge? "They said what? They said they can't shoot, 'cause there's snow on the ground?

    "Pass me that jacket, I'd rather wrap it around my feet than my shoulders..."

    I'm telling you guys (and Old Glory, too, of course). You can do it. Saving your country is not a summer project. Nor is it only for days when the sun is out.

     Besides, I heard that shoveling snow warms you up real good...

     Man, it's got to be great, getting to shoot after a couple of hours with a snow shovel. Makes you appreciate what fun it really is!

    And don't you think only of yourselves. How about those poor freezing Minnesotans, just aching for an excuse to come down to balmy Wisconsin, "Riviera of the North", to warm up with a little Appleseeding. Can't you have just a little heart to spare for the less fortunate?

     Let's get some Appleseeds scheduled quick in WI, to improve the morale in Minnesota - can we? Please?

     

[Sistema1927]

Getting away from the weather for one moment (did anyone say that it was cold?), I would be remiss if I didn't publicly thank TaosGlock for providing ammunition for my son.

My AR was running smoothly, but my son was having trouble with intermittent jams in his 10/22 with ammo that has worked in that carbine in the past (Federal bulk pack, maybe a bad batch?).  TaosGlock came to the rescue with some Federal Target Auto ammo, which worked like a charm.

And do you know what?  He refused to take any payment for this ammo, telling us that just the fact that we had shown up was thanks enough.  You meet the best people at the range.  Thanks, TaosGlock!

[Garand69]

Excellent work NM!

SamD, we havin' fun yet??

Old Glory, where is your compassion, letting those poor unfortunate Minnesotians freeze! Their your neighbors, host a shoot for them poor lil fellers so they can warm up!

[Old Glory!]

Taos,
Your snow pictures are attracting those pesky northerners.     

Congratulations Bluefeather, telling history!  I hope to meet you on the AS trail. 

Since you like snow maybe you'd like to come to the "Riviera of the North" as soon as we get a WI winter AS on the schedule.

Bring your shovels.

[SamD]

Now that I'm back on teh board, I'm having fun

I may have to come up with something special for all the folks in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Have to dig into the pack and see what I can find for them.

Irrespective of cold, I had a great time as always.
You meet the best people at Appleseed.

Sam

[TaosGlock]

Thanks to ashrn03 we have some more pics:

SamD and BlueFeather setting up before the crowd arrived. BlueFeather checks out SamD's nifty "Sight Alignment"-"Sight Picture" magnetic board.
This really helped with those steps.


Just getting set up before the rifles are on the line. Old Glory proudly flies in the cold New Mexico breeze!


TaosGlock and BlueFeather getting started on Day 1.


Early morning Day 1 prone demo TaosGlock and BlueFeather:


Day 2. On the line are TaosGlock with AZGromit and AZRedhawk44 on the far end with SamD calling:

[traveler]

As a participant in the frostbite shoot I have to say thank you to the excellent staff.  They epitomized the 3 Ps. professionalism, patience, and perseverance.  While we got to sit or lie out of most of the wind they were constantly up and down the line braving the elements to keep us safe and progressing.  I found it surprising how much I had forgotten since leaving Paris Island in 1967.  I also learned that GSG5s do not like Blazer ammo and that a scope at 25M makes it real easy to blast someone else's targets.
Since the end of the shoot I know of 4 marlins that have been ordered ($135) at Walmart.
I'll be shooting again the end of FEb when it moves indoors
New Years resolution: I will be a rifleman by august!!!

Was at the range today, will be there tomorrow and Sunday.  Got to get rid of that Blazer stuff somehow:-)

[SamD]

Welcome aboard Traveler.
Good to see you on the board and I look forward to seeing on the range soon.

We'll work out a couple of practice sessions and you'll have that rifleman patch long before August.
More like March at the latest.

Sam

[Fred]

     Good, SamD.

     I figure by Aug, he'll be not only a veteran rifleman, but a veteran Red Hat RWVA instructor...

     Sheesh, people still have no idea how fast this program can work on ya...

[traveler]

I'll be at the range sat and sunday breaking on my new marlin:-) anybody know where I can get extra magazines locally??

[SamD]

Check Big 5. the one here usually has them in stock, out right now.
Sam

[AZRedhawk44]

Brrrr!!!!

Okay, I think I've thawed.  I've had a chill since this shoot that just would not go away!

What's wrong with this picture?   


A random pic from Sam's house:


New Mexico is pretty, even when dusted over with snow.

You guys covered the bases pretty well in your AAR, I just want to congratulate the NM team.  We're gonna have quite the crew over there.  Very enthusiastic group of instructors in that state.

[SavageShootr]

I must be missing something...is snow on cactus not normal?   

Great Job out there you guys and gals!!

Welcome to all the new Appleseeders.

I hope to meet all of you on the trail.

~SS

[LayloPro]

SS,

I'm with you on this one.....cactus with snow on is the appropriate watering method for the cactus.....and that's not very much snow to boot.....

We need to send them some pix of a Tahoe So. Beach shoot, in say...February, or something......let 'em find out how much of that "blue snow" gets scrapped off on our side of the Sierras.....
I'll have to start looking around for ranges up there now....... <

But seriously, it is -SOOOOO- good to see NM stepping up this way....you guys got it going on!!
Keep bringing 'em to the line!!

LLP

[Old Glory!]

Did someone say snow?

[LayloPro]

But where's the cactus's???

Or the ranges going 24/7/365???