What do you do if you're really interested in Appleseed, have some land, and own a bulldozer? Why, you build a range and host an Appleseed! And that's exactly what Bob Allen (Cowboy) did. On August 29 -30 he welcomed nearly thirty people to the first Gunnison CO Appleseed on his new range.
Here's Cowboy on the road to his house and the new range. Well, this is Colorado, so both the road and the range took a little doing. The range is there in the middle of the picture; the bulldozer is the little yellow spot by his left hip.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010013.jpg)
Here's telephoto shot of the range: see the pickup? By the way, that's a really large bulldozer.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010011.jpg)
Improvise, adapt, and overcome: Appleseeders on the range to unload their equipment on Sunday morning. It was a tight fit. But once unloaded and we had the safety briefing, rifles were safely moved to a safety impound area and the vehicles were driven off the range and parked on the access road south of the bulldozer. Once everyone was back on the range, the rifles were retrieved from the impound area, moved to the firing line, and the instruction began.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010003.jpg)
Other than hanging off the side of a mountain, the Appleseed proceeded much like any other (just watch your step off that berm, it's a long way down). Here Blue Skies relates the story of Hezikiah Wyman over lunch on Sunday. Note the alpine deck chairs Al Smith imported for the event; they're normally used at a ski resort.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010006.jpg)
Sunday we added shooters: 29 signed up that morning - here's the noon Group Photo:
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010005.jpg)
And here's 7 of the 8 youth who made this such a pleasent Appleseed for the Instructors. This was a really good group; they kept focused and worked their way through wind, dust, rain, and jams (remember, the cartridges go into the tube magazine with the bullet up, right?) They learned marksmanship skills, history and a whole lot of perseverence. No kids here; they're youth - there's a difference.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010009.jpg)
And finally, the Instructors and the three new Riflemen: from l-r, instructors al smith and ashrn03, Riflemen Craig, David (aka Ryan), and Jim, and instructors Cowboy, Blue Skies, and nmmi9100.
(http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss223/ashrn03/Gunnison%20CO%20Aug%2029-30/P1010007.jpg)
It was a great group of Appleseeders and instructors; everyone worked hard and improved. And the good news is that there is another Appleseed scheduled on this range October 3-4.
Is this where I'm going for the 19th? Looks awesome.
Can we invest in a few popups for shade? Guaranteed the whole day will go 100% better (especially at my pace) if there's a shady place to fill mags.
Way to go guys! What a great place to do a CO AS! Super job on building that range Cowboy. O0
So many familiar faces under those instructor hats! :)
And what a great turnout of folks! :~
Looks like somebody stepped up and I'm going to Kaysville instead. Good luck! Beautiful range!
Well, many thanks to paul SB and the IIT's-bob,john,dave. Thanks also to rob,a rifleman who helped out the whole of saturday and shot for fun on sunday. The Western Slope is three RIFLEMAN richer thanks to all who came. With practice, persistence and the Rifleman's Dance we will all get there. And the Country will be better for it.
It was a beautiful weekend with just a little bit of moisture to take the edge off the pounding sun. We'll get to work on the awning next.
What a great group of shooters! Thank you all for coming out. The kids, families and everyone made it a great inaugural shoot on Bob's "Lost Canyon Range" in beautiful the Gunnison Country.
My hero award goes to linda who worked to overcome many obstacles while banging out the targets on saturday.
My persistence award goes to Marta and Birgit who overcame equipment mishaps to keep on shooting and working the six steps, NPOA, SHF and riflemans cadence. You guys make me proud to be an american.
That's all for now
Lots of positives at this shoot:
Thanks to Cowboy for the range...it's something to see what a determined Rifleman, a D-9 Caterpillar, and 50 gallons of Diesel can do, given a bit of imagination.
Thanks to Al Smith for the wonderful coffee you brought for everyone...converted me from being a coke drinker to a Quality Coffee drinker.
Enjoyed working for Ashrn03 and learning from him, Blue Skies, Al Smith, and Cowboy.
And most of all thanks for all the Great Americans that came out to awaken the Rifleman within them and learn about their forefathers. They worked hard, dealt with physical and equipment handicaps, and never wavered from their quest. Meeting these folks at Appleseed reminds me that there still is hope to right the course of the USS United States.
-David
Edgewood, NM
It truly was a great weekend spent teaching a very determined group of Americans, and my sincere thanks goes out to each and every one of them. My Orange Hat is off to all the youth and Linda especially, for not giving up, learning a lot and having a good time while doing it! Birgit and Marta made us all proud as they worked to overcome equipment issues and put rounds on the target. What a tough pair of girls these two were! :~
All this under one of the most beautiful American flags I've ever seen. The significance of this particular flag made this weekend a real honor Bob, thank you.
I can't say enough about the Instructors and especially Ashrn03 for driving a LONG way to spread the word &). I'd like to add my double appreciation to Bob for doing the impossible and making this possible, to Al for being such a great host, and to David for coming such a long way to help out!
Great people, a bulldozer, rifles and EXCELLENT coffee - it doesn't get much better than that. I can't wait for the next one!
Blue Skies
Thanks again everyone for helping earn my Patch. Looking forward to being an instructor.
Craig "Iron Site"
Welcome iron site to the league of extraordinary instructors (orange hats). We are a committed group of volunteers that hope to SAVE this GREAT COUNTRY by WAKING UP our FELLOW RIFLEMEN.
It is hard work sometimes. And sometimes the results come slow. But the folks I have met- both shooters and instructors, make the work worthwhile. It is the least I can do when I consider the gifts I have been given by prior generations of Sons of Liberty.
A side note, if charlie reads this Jeff Clark said to say hello.
Thanks again to all appleseeders everywhere. You make me proud and honored by your association.
Keep the Faith. Persist. Persevere. Overcome. And SAVE this GREAT EXPERIMENT.
al
At work today I flew in from So Cal and we flew right over Gunnison on the way into Denver. I looked down, followed the road that goes north out of town, turned right, looked up a long twisty dirt road, found the turnoff and followed the road up to the left-buttonhook and BANG! there was Bob's range! <:) What a great sight that was from 39,000 feet! Wish I could've gotten my camera out quicker! Thanks again Bob, you've helped change the world! O0
Hello Blue Skies. That is so cool that you could see the range that Cowboy Built. We hope to see you up this way soon.
Safe travellin' to you.
Al smith
Roaster/Appleseeder