GBF Operation Buckwheat Recon

TRAINING LEAD-UP

Monday, Jan 20:

I hiked 4.5 miles at Latta Nature Preserve wearing the 30#RPC and Garmont T8s, after a Dentist Appointment.  My mouth was all numb, which made the ruck interesting.

I accidentally stumbled over a Geocache, for the first time!  

My mouth was all numb.

At Torrey's Peak, I thought I had stumbled upon a Geocache once, but it was really just a peak sign-in log.

Tuesday, Jan 21:

It had started snowing a bit at Blackstone when I got there, but it was just starting to stick a little bit.

Since my piston LMT had started malfunctioning in Autryville, and I had had to switch to a backup rifle, I gave it a full cleaning and wanted to re-zero it.  I also checked zero on my old DI LMT.

I practiced a bit of pistol with my new CZ, only to discover that one screw for the red dot had disappeared.  Bother.  Maybe I had used a short screw instead of a long screw.

By the time I went back outside, a good bit of snow had accumulated!

Maybe a new record for my house...

Wednesday, Jan 22:

18A "Lower Body Prep" in 19:25, then "Lower Push BW" in 39:46

Thursday, Jan 23:

Back at Blackstone.  I had replaced the screws in the Holosun for the new CZ and wanted to re-zero.  It bothers me to have unzeroed firearms.

I also checked zero on the old CZ, and that was fine.

Saturday, Jan 25:

I reconed the course for GBF Operation Buckwheat with Brandon.  I wasn't sure how the trails had fared after the hurricane, especially after seeing the sign at the entrance.  Fortunately, everything was in pretty good shape.

It was quite cold at the start.  Gloves were a must.  My nose was runny.

After a couple miles, it started to warm up.  We were sweating and shed some layers.

The trail goes along a ridge for a while.  There are some nice views there.  It was good to be able to enjoy the views without feeling rushed.  During the event, I wouldn't want to stop.

There was still snow on portions of the route that didn't get as much sunlight.

Part of the route goes along a creek.

There were some longer icy patches.  I was glad to have my trekking poles!

Freezing water flows make for really interesting natural patterns.

One funny incident... there's a creek crossing that requires a good bit of balance if you want to stay dry.  

We both made it through successfully, sharing the poles.  

We celebrated too soon, though, since Brandon stepped onto what he thought was solid, snow-covered ground next, only to find that it was really just snow covering water.

This was the hole that his legs made.

The route ends with another big uphill and steep downhill.  The ruck felt heavy.

We made it, though, and enjoyed a nice meal at Mills River Brewing afterwards.

Fun day!  We covered 11.5 miles in 5:44.  I had 30# in my Rucker v2.  We had 2,695 feet of gain.