Here we are within a month so I guess it is time to offer up an official WELCOME ABOARD brief for Allemans. My name is Bill and it appears I will be the shoot boss for this great range and really great opportunity to plant some more Riflemen. IT IS AN HONOR!!! For those that are already signed up, thank you. I am proud that Project Appleseed has gotten the both of us up off the couch! I offer one challenge. We appear to be in the running to have the largest Appleseed in the country. Wouldn't it be GREAT if we could pull that off!!! Muster the family, bring the neighbor, do something nice for the boss and bring them . In today's world if you still have a job, be thankful and show it to your boss, bring him or her. Remember active duty military, kids, women, and elected officials shoot for free. Allemans may not be one of the big, everyone-knows-the-name Appleseed locations but lets make it so after 19 April 1775, sorry, I really did mean 2009
Some nuts&bolts of info from the last time I was at Allemans, in no particuliar order:
First of all, Reade Range is a GREAT location but it is HARD to find. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes at least, and do a good map recon before you leave the freeway.
There is NO cell phone signal there, and no phone booths down the road. (Do we even still have phone booths?)
The view from the range is AWESOME!! What that really means is that there is nothing in the way of the North Pole and Reade Range so if there is a wind, dress appropriately.
The ground at Reade will not move on you--It is all rock!! Bring a GOOD shooting pad and if you are camping, have a plan B for tent stakes.
Speaking of camping. Camping is available there though it is primative. The location is about half way down the right side of the range to about the 500 yd line, then turn left to the tree line on the left side of the range. Bring your own water, and whatever else you want because running out to the store for resupply is a 2 hour trip. Oh, one note on camping and Appleseeds in general, please no spirits to celebrate the days event. I like a cold one as much as anyone but one incident, just ONE, could permanently mar our reputation at the range, and Appleseed in general. Lets wait till we get back home. Camp fires are ok so I hear, just be very careful, and bring a stick or two of wood from home.
There is no place for lunch, if you want a noon meal, best plan ahead.
Personally, I am camping at the Super 8 Motel in Altoona 45 minutes away. It is ok, as cheap as anything else and has eating places near for an instructor dinner I have to sponsor, though all are invited to attend. The phone there is 814 942 5350.
A subject that some seem reluctant to address, medical support. This place is lost to the local EMS units it appears. I truly had to call 5 different EMS stations before I found the one that sort of knew where it was. So, if anyone in attendence has more specific training than basic first aid, I would appreciate it if you would step up. I have a plan B but.....
It is my plan to arrive on the range by about noon on Friday. One thing I for sure want to do, if the weather is not an issue, is get the target backers put up on Friday afternoon and save an hour of time on Saturday morning. So if you are available.....
My instructor staff so far is 3 of us, not overcrowded for the largest 19 April Appleseed in the country. I have a plan B also to deal with that but I would ask that you arrive no later than 0800 on Saturday morning to get the paperwork out of the way so that we can start SHARPLY at 0830. Please bring exact change if you have not prepaid. Please bring an attentive and cooporate attitude so that we can move forward through the weekend without reviewing things TOO much. Expect me to be BRUTAL with the clock!! We do have a bit of a special event scheduled for Saturday afternoon and while I am very much looking forward to it, there will be a break from the normal training procedures. Expect the day to run until almost dark on Saturday and then stop a bit earlier on Sunday.
I think it is appropriate to thank B964, Mooney and all the others that did all the real work to make this happen. It may not seem that way from the outside but there is an unbelievable amount of work that goes into putting an Appleseed on the schedule. My part of just showing up and teaching is easy and the fun part. Take a moment to tell these folks thank you. All of you think about taking the Seventh Step (We'll teach you the first six on Saturday) and continuing on with Project Appleseed by becoming involved either as support staff, gosh it takes a bunch, or as Instructors In Training.
Some ask what they can do to get ready for an Appleseed. The MOST IMPORTANT thing you have already done, you are going to be there. Besides that, review the material on the forum--there is a huge amount of really good stuff there. It should answer most of your questions about equipment, and eveything else. If you are familiar with the prone and sitting postions, get into them as you watch tv, it will pay great dividends. If you are not familiar with them, try to do some simple stretching for a few days before. Touch, and hold your fingers to your toes, sit crosslegged on the floor as you watch tv, hamstring stretches, those kinds of things. Might bring some aspirin for Saturday night and Sunday morning. For equipment do not forget sound suppressors, required, and eye glasses if you want them. We will STRONGLY encourage you to shoot with a sling, perferably a military style. So if you can get one, get it, if not I will have a few to sell at cost, but they do require 1 1/4 inch swivals, vice typical 1 inch. Plan on about 400 rounds.
My cell is 703 801 4741, if anyone has questions, call me or PM me on the forum. THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!
Sempre Fi Bill
Quote from: Truculent turtle on March 25, 2009, 06:56:45 AM
There is NO cell phone signal there, and no phone booths down the road. (Do we even still have phone booths?)
THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!
Sempre Fi Bill
FYI. If you NEED to use a cell phone, head south on Rt 253 out of Allemans. About a couple miles near the crest of a hill there is a hardware store (usefull for many things) on the right. If you stand on the edge of the road in the parking lot you will get signal (watch for cars!). The woman at the store said it is about the only spot around that does.
THIS
IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!
Thanks,
Planning to get in to camp mid/late Fri . Will helps as possible
Regards, Roy
Allemans PA .............. SOLD OUT!
(I typed that in Scouts voice)
Quote from: B964 on April 02, 2009, 06:38:25 AM
Allemans PA .............. SOLD OUT!
(I typed that in Scouts voice)
its a shame 60 + on thier way to the shoot, only 10 have found/ use the sight to cordinate w/ eachother
regards,
I did notice many of the calls I received from PA people it seemed they did not have steady internet access and that may be the biggest part of it.
Ok, a new (good) development. There has been someone step up to cater lunch both Saturday and Sunday. Don't know specifically what but a sandwich, a drink and a bag of chips, or something like that. This is a good thing, so lets please try to support the effort. thanks, Bill
I for one will be making the 5 hour drive this afternoon. I'm just curious, are there GPS coordinates of the range? I've got google maps directions and I printed out the notes on the website, but I'd still like to have a GPS backing me up.
Looking forward to meeting you all. I'm departing at around Noon, and my ETA is 6:00 PM.
GPS coordinates
40.72960,-78.42856
Great!
Thank you sir!