February 15, 2015 started off iffy at best. There had been blizzard or near blizzard conditions up until about 0900, prompting MA DOT to strongly recommended that folks stay home. The temperature never got above single digits, and wind gusts were above 35 mph. Snow blew across the range obscuring targets from time to time. These were barely the sort of conditions that would qualify this event as a Winterseed.. NOT!
Three brave and hardy Patriots drove through a snow storm to attend. For one (Jay) this would be his first Appleseed. These Patriots three endured the most brutal conditions I have ever experienced at any Appleseed to date. Mother nature threw some of the worst conditions she had at them. These guys chewed it up and asked for seconds! They endured, they persisted, and by the end of the day, their shooting actually improved. While none would earn the coveted Winterseed patch at this event, they certainly earned the respect and admiration of this instructor.
Jay, Jeff, and Tom, you certainly demonstrated the strength of character that puts you in a league far and above others. You are men that know what you are about!!
In addition, 2 young high school-aged instructors attended. Both had designs on earning a Winterseed patch. One (Ulysses) did so with a score of 218, and on the LAST AQT of the day. The other (SamB) fell a tad short, but shot a respectable 203.
Both young instructors were a HUGE help in prepping the range for the day's event. After the club's snowplow and industrial-sized snowblower cleared the range of 3+ feet of snow, these young men improvised a line and hangers to get the target line in shape and ready to go. They persisted throughout the day without a complaint.
AIM, our state coordinator and DSB, deserves heaps of credit for his sage wisdom and guidance in helping to make this event a legend in the history of Harvard Appleseeds.
BTW- Did you know that when the temperature outside gets down to about 4 degress .. .22 ammo and metal magazines actually stick to an ungloved hand... Any guesses on how I know this?...
Cold and snowy. We had to wait for a snow blower to clear the range.
Receiving instruction and putting it to practice.
Seeing the target was often tough due to 35+ MPH gusts and blowing snow... with single digit temps...it was COLD!!
On the plus side.. it kept the mosquitos away..
The sun has dropped below the berm ..soon sunlight will be fading fast.... last AQT of the day before it gets REALLY cold...
Thanks to our young instructors, SamB and Ulysses.. both are qualified Riflemen.. but they are pretty good cooks too.. The hot lunch and coffee was a huge morale boost in the cold weather.. They were instrumental in getting the range ready for the event!
And a few more pictures..
Huzzah folks! You exemplify the best qualities of true Patriots. :bow:
Y'all can keep that weather though. ;D
Wreck
Nice Sunday. I was impressed by the participants ("let's shoot! We can eat later"), the instructors ("yes, I can did through the pile and squeeze in this mouse hole to retrieve supplies!"), the shoot boss ("yes, I can make all of this happen in half the time with half the usual resources - and keep smiling!"), and the HSC grounds crew ("yes I still have shear pins left. I can clear the range, the road, the parking spots. I can even do it all before 9AM"). The whole day went amazingly smoothly. Sadly, no patches were awarded. Next time for sure!
Here are some more pics:
The sun is setting, the temperature is dropping, brass needs to be picked up.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OxFUpBEoKS4/VOODTQkAHNI/AAAAAAAADyc/ohlzoJGrt-Q/w1213-h900-no/hardy_soul.jpg)
The kitchen area that hbennett set up. Hot drinks, hot food, shelter. Always prepared, hbennett is...
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AGY7O2c6lWQUiYgLCUOzcddK82QLFDPg-aDJ5bax0o0=w1200-h900-no)
An icicle patch being awarded. Nice groups!
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HW7ixELJERw/VOOEz2zDqEI/AAAAAAAADyw/CA_Cbepdecc/w1200-h900-no/patch1.jpg)
218
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b47UvrKnsX4/VOOEMqTDxtI/AAAAAAAADyo/SGk2nX9bYw0/w675-h900-no/patch2.jpg)
Great work Guys! O0
For those who don't know the Northeast has been hit with snow storm after snow storm this winter.
Especially Mass. Last report I heard they have received something like 6 feet so far this Year.
Running events, attending events in those conditions is pure dedication. :bow:
Congrats and thanks to all.
Wow... I guess I can't brag about the Athol winterseed (before anyone had even coined the word!) any more. We only had a foot and a half of crusty snow, not THREE FEET, nor a blizzard!!
Very well done, gentlemen, very well done indeed! I am in awe of the dedication needed for such an undertaking.
That's impressive.
..Team Northeast, holding it down!! My hats off to you in Mass, Great Work!!
Forget Winterseed patches. We should have a "Washington's march to Trenton" patch for events like this. ;D
Again, great work.
Wreck
Huzzah! Nice work, guys!
Quote from: Ramblin' Wreck on February 18, 2015, 04:08:06 PM
Forget Winterseed patches. We should have a "Washington's march to Trenton" patch for events like this. ;D
Again, great work.
Wreck
Yes, or "Henry Knox and the Guns of Ticonderoga" patch. Well done, Americans. O0
UL