Laramie 6-24 (IBC or Part 2 of 4) is officially over and it was an event for the record books. The Laramie Rifle Range welcomed 36 Appleseeders from twelve states (Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming)! The LRR opened a field on the range for camping and most of the participants brought tents and campers for the duration; 1 shower! To give you an idea of the size of the event, Wyoming is the least populous state; 36 in Wyoming is equivalent to nearly 1400 in Florida or 1900 in Texas!
This set of events represents the longest continuous Appleseed in history; four events back-to-back for 10 straight days of Liberty, History, Shooting and Camaraderie. Laramie 6-24 kicked off with a Pistol Clinic on Friday and rolled right into an IBC/RBC combination (with a one-day overlap). The Boot Camps were followed by a regular Two Day 25m Rifle Event where each Appleseeder had a chance to put their skills to work passing on the skills of marksmanship and igniting those bushfires of liberty.
This AAR will be about the IBC but you can find the other AARs:
Pistol Clinic (https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=67908.0)
IBC (This post)
RBC (https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=67955.0)
25m Appleseed (https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=67941.0)
It was the highest Boot Camp in the world; the Canyon Range at LRR rises to over 7500 ft! The effects of high altitude and dehydration were felt by many. Laramie weather in June is generally unpredictable but I'm told the "W" in Wyoming represents Wind. We were a little light on wind last year, but this year saw thunderstorms, wind and microbursts which took out most of our popup canopies on the first day on the range (and several participants tents).
Before continuing with the comments and pictures, we should give a "shout out" to LRR. The club is amazing and exceptionally supportive of the Appleseed mission. Our "local boots on the ground" is RegularGuy. He spent the months leading up to the event arranging classrooms and ranges; smoothing things over with the board and answering a ton of questions from participants. Master Instructor Colonial Shooter is the Appleseeder who started the Wyoming tradition, and he would have been proud to see his idea become so successful. Finally, thanks to M1Bzrk. He kept the Wyoming "Big Event" alive during the dark times after Colonial Shooter passed and COVID decimated the numbers of Appleseeders on the line. When it was suggested by many that the event be abandoned, M1Bzrk did what Riflemen do best; persist in the face of adversity. He is a role model and mentor for many of us Appleseeders and the epitome of one Rifleman making a difference.
Now on to the pictures . . . click on any picture to see it larger and click again to shrink back down.
Several group photos were taken during the four events. This one was taken on the overlap day between the IBC and RBC.
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There are many more pictures to come and I hope anyone else who might have a photo or comment will chime in and post.
"Those of us who were born free and have known freedom all our lives sometimes forget what a precious blessing it is."
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Geek teaching
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Class
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Too much coffee?
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We're jammed in . . .
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"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."– John Adams
Teaching in small groups . . .
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"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."– Thomas Paine, The American Crisis
Tophand takes his Orange Hat!
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This was the first of six hats taken during the event!