I have to say, Jefftk is tougher than I am. Jefftk made it through all of the rounds. I sat out on a couple of the AQT's due to the cold, numb fingers, and removing snow that was caked onto my face. Fantastic!
I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. What a great event, aim and hbennett were phenomenal instructors. When you hear on the interwebs about how much people learn at these events, it's no joke. Thanks aim and hbennet.
I will see you guys at the next Harvard Appleseed and I hope to convince my wife to AQT.
Thanks for all the kind words. As far as toughness goes, all three students showed LOTS of toughness, both physical and mental for showing up at this event and toughing out the entire day.
The temps were uncomfortable, the wind and the blowing snow made conditions brutal. But YOU came, and YOU toughed it out.. and your shooting IMPROVED at the same time.
My hat is off to all you gentlemen. You could have been doing ANYTHING else on that Sunday.. You could have stayed in, stayed warm, and stayed comfortable. Yet, you came, you challenged yourself and the elements, and I never heard a single complaint.
You came not to show others, but to prove to yourselves what YOU are capable of doing. You are all
men of character, who "Know what they are about". You have certainly earned my respect and admiration.
Appleseed couldn't do what it does without Patriots like YOU!!
My hat is also off to the the two high-school aged instructors that showed participated along with AIM and myself. One qualified on the LAST AQT of the day, and the other who came close with a score of 203.. 7 points short.. but came and toughed it out none the less.. Both young men were instrumental in setting up the range and running the event..and cooking lunch.. The hotdogs and beans and hot coffee was a feast.. because the food was HOT and the temp was COLD...
The Grounds crew at Harvard Sportsmans are also owed a HUGE THANK YOU for getting the range ready. The
65 yd range would have been even more challenging had they not run the snow-blower down there to make
it useable. Walking down the range to check targets is definitely preferable to trudging back and forth through
thigh-deep snow..not that we wouldn't have done it.
This Appleseed is one for the record books. As I told the participants, if you can meet the challenge of these
conditions, you can and will succeed anywhere! A Rifleman persists!
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....