We're less than a week out folks! We recommend that sometime this week, you pack all you gear and go out for a 2-3 hour stroll just to check it out and make adjustments. Take a rest from conditioning next weekend, and eat lots of good carbohydrates.
1500 on SUNDAY 09 MARCH: JD, Eric, and a 15 pax van and a covered-bed pickup will be in front of Luce Hall (having already picked up Sam at 1300 in Fredericksburg). Come on down with your backpack fully loaded, and a day pack for daily hiking. TWO bags -- one full pack or bag to load in the pickup truck with overnight gear, and one day pack to hike with which should never leave your sight. We will leave by 1530 and head for the campsite in Front Royal. That evening we'll provide supper for you, and we'll then do an overview of the Civil War and settle in for a long winter's nap.
0600 on MONDAY 10 MARCH: We break camp and head out to the first stand on our staff ride: The First Battle of Kernstown. From there we go to the trailhead and start hiking! Here are the four staff ride stands:
In addition to these formal stands, there will be plenty of time to talk about stuff (leadership and fieldcraft) while on the trail. We'll also have our integration campfire on Wednesday night 12 March at the South River Overloook campground.
We also recommend that you go through and read all the updates we've sent so far, in case you missed any of them. Here they are again:
This email will be posted with the others on our e-mail archives page for your future reference. Pay attention to the little things as you make final preparations. How will you purify the water you draw from streams and carry in your water bottles? Potable Aqua is one solution, but there are many others. Consider bringing a small jar of Vaseline or a generic petroleum jelly with you -- lots of uses to help with chafing, chapped lips, etc. Put everything in plastic bags to keep it dry. Keep your food in a separate compartment from your gear. Got a spare bootlace? Got a spoon? Toilet paper? Matches? Like any other mission you'll be working on in the future as a commissioned officer, you have to think this through and prepare.
We'll send out a weather report later this week. All this snow means it will be easier to find water!
