Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[Charles Heath]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

But it was a special handkerchief.

Just as I would be heartbroken should my genuine Carter & Jasper linen hankie with the nice little Mobile, Ala., stamp should ever take French leave. Lots of memories in that fair sweat-n-snot rag. One day, it may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, but until that day comes....

[SCTiger]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

Charles:

Yes I learned a lot from Chickamauga in 2003, also other events where we would march 2-4 miles total for the weekend, which was the equivalent of one morning for BGR. My pack was half the weight of that fine event 3 years ago. We still need to move as much as we can on these weekend LH's, if only to remind us that "you can't bring it all."

I was marching up a long slope at BGR and chuckling about Franklin, 2004, when that was described as a "death march." It's hilarious now.

Silas, I am glad you appreciated the cards, I left part of my fat butt on the trail too, hope you didn't pick that up. :D

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

I anticipated fouled weapons, as some companies were firing all day and then had to go on guard at night, not having time to clean weapons with the bad guys so close. But we never had any serious problems there, and in the morning the weapons still worked. The cone pick was feely used and occasionally a cone removed and cleaned, but our company never had a serious problem requiring disassembly beyond that.

A gentle reminder that this will work when we're only firing blanks, but not so when you actually need to load expanding ball. Happily no one in the hobby does that (except for that odd Mudsill event in Georgia many years ago), but it still bears remembering. A clean weapon is a happy weapon, and there's ample documentation of having the troops clean weapons by squads in turn, while the other squad (or platoon, etc.) provided security.

[Dan Hadley]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

the only thing I left behind in Kisatchie, besides my heart, and a chunk of my soul, was my folding knife. Had a backup, so I was covered.

Well, I also left behind some well-covered fecal matter, but we shant go into that. No- let's! I've heard many fellers comment, myself included, on how their bowels can go dormant for the duration of a 'normal' event. How convenient. BGR forced the hand, or the sphincter, of most, though. I intentionally did not pack any modern wipe. I used what scrap paper I had on hand (I always save my cartridge bundle paper), and when not that, a handful of clean (and plentiful) pine needles did the job just fine. OK enough about that stuff.

My equipment and i held up fine, but neither of us would have done so well, had proper checks and preparations not been made. older and supposedly wiser- just no excuse for not being prepared

got along fine without any underdrawers. did fine in boots vs. shoes too. swapped to cotton socks one day- did fine, though wool is better. I got one blister on my left heel on day two, but thankfully did not get worse, and I was able to cheerfully trudge along. yanking those gunboats off my dogs at the end of the day was sheer bliss.

one telling reminder for me that BGR was such a memorable event are the dreams I've been having lately. bizarre, like dreams can be, but each one involving me and my gear, my rifle- my worldly belongings- caring for it and worrying about it- joined in close kinship with a few of my comrades from Co. A.

God granted me a reprieve from whatever was ailing me before and during those marches- except for a hacking cough- but once I got home, I got plenty sick, along with a fever one night, which was filled with fitful technicolor dreams of columns of four, by company into line, marching though briars and brambles, and charred pine underbrush, crossing bayous... loading, firing, loading... memorable stuff!

thanks Tom & Fred, great job.

Dan Hadley

[DougCooper]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

Dang Dan - you must be something when you are "healthy".

Ah, the trip to the sinks - remind me to thank Mike Watson for his oustanding dual purpose cartridge/sink paper.

I too showed up with a racking cough and cold and a tweaked back. The marching cured the back and the cold kept me awake but otherwise did not get worse, until like Dan, I relapsed upon arriving back in "civilization."

BGR, the event that cures all ills, mental and physical. It certainly cured many a bad feeling about the hobby.

[Dan Hadley]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

yup.

Dan Hadley

[Dan Hadley]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

trip to the sinks? i just backed up against a pine tree. except for that one time when a fallen log a couple feet off the ground looked like it would make a good seat, only to give way when upon it I sat! the forest creatures got a good laugh out of that.

Dan Hadley

[DougCooper]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

trip to the sinks? i just backed up against a pine tree. except for that one time when a fallen log a couple feet off the ground looked like it would make a good seat, only to give way when upon it I sat! the forest creatures got a good laugh out of that.

Dan Hadley

Brevet Sink might be a better term - a promotion for a small gully with a convenient tree. :D

[hooyahmicah]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

I was also sick on my way up. I was getting over it (for about the 4th time in the last few weeks), and feared BGR causing yet ANOTHER relapse. But, it didn't. :D

And also, a curious side note...I gained exactly 10 pounds over BGR. I had expected to lose weight, but not so. Even with all the marching and hauling, I don't think I could've gained that much muscle mass that quickly... Any ideas or similar stories?

[PogueMahone]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

You boys are gonna make me tell you about my secret spot, aren't you?

At our Saturday night bivouac, I made my way (further) into the woods and looked for a likely spot. I almost alighted upon a rather large log that looked solid, when I saw it! A thick branch of a fallen tree, still green and parallel to the ground. I ventured over and gave it a "test sit". It was solid and sturdy. The sunlight was dappling through the trees and the breeze was just right. I remove my hat and belt, dropped trousers and took up the Harper's Weekly. I read an interesting article about how the Democrats must run an anti-war Presidential candidate against the Republicans. I mused upon the irony of the times. I read the ads on the back page. Yes, I took my time and enjoyed my visit to the "sink". If I'd had my pipe, I'd have smoked a bowl.

However, I suspect this is where I gained a little travelling partner that I found on my nether regions during a post event shower. There is no free lunch.

As to Charles' list, I did, as usual, lube my soft skin to protect against galding, however it did no good against the chafing of the seams of the drawers between my thighs. My drawers were a bit loose when I arrived and only got worse as the days passed. I finally took to pulling them up as high as they would go and cinching a belt about my waist as tight as I could stand it to keep them up. The chafing ceased to hurt the next day and I was fine.

We all learn lessons at these real campaign events. In our company, we admonished the men to lighten their loads before the event, again Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Still, I marched behind guys carrying 2 blankets and way too much gear. You could see them struggle, but none ever complained, to their credit.

Good event. Too bad more of you didn't attend. If you don't go, you don't know.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

My gear held up very well. I was wearing captured Federal leathers at this one and found my box plate trying to fall off but put it in my knapsack before it did. Besides that everything carried well and I had no real discomfort.

I would get a little moisty in the nether regions during the day's march. Whenever we camped for the night, I dropped the trousers and lounged around in my drawers to let things dry out. That worked pretty well and I never had any chafing problems. Plus, it lent a bit of dapper gentility to an otherwise ungentlemanly gathering - or I was just being a cracker depending on one's outlook I reckon.

Cracker is as Cracker does.

BGR - Where the foundations for the Cracker Mess were laid.

[DougCooper]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

I was also sick on my way up. I was getting over it (for about the 4th time in the last few weeks), and feared BGR causing yet ANOTHER relapse. But, it didn't. :D

And also, a curious side note...I gained exactly 10 pounds over BGR. I had expected to lose weight, but not so. Even with all the marching and hauling, I don't think I could've gained that much muscle mass that quickly... Any ideas or similar stories?

Micah - you don't weigh anything to begin with. Are you sure the 10 pounds wasn't dirt?

One strange thing I noted - adrenaline. I probably slept only 2-3 hours each night due to being the Sgt of the Guard 3 of the 4 nights, and generally regretting a thin blanket and hard ground. But everytime we knew the enemy was near, any hint of being tired vanished. Not sure how long we all could have kept going but I expected to be dog tired half the time, as other folks expected as well. It simply did not happen and now I understand a bit more of how much coffee, adrenaline and comradeship can offset lack of sleep and hard marching every day.

I lost about 4 pounds - think it all went over to Micah.

[Spinster]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

Doug, I think Micah just snagged that weight from whatever was floating in the air--I clocked an 8 pound loss myself, and am glad to be back to the days where I lose weight at events rather than gain.

The Kitsachie cured whatever ailed though--as our Happy Caravan moved west, we were all coming down with various forms of consumption. By Sunday night, I was considering setting up some sort of giant croup tent and putting everyone inside. By Monday, I was calling Kimberlee to inquire about adding a few things to her traveling drug box. And by late week, we were all clear eyed and clear lunged.

Must have been all that chicken soup.........

[DougCooper]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

to her traveling drug box. And by late week, we were all clear eyed and clear lunged.

Must have been all that chicken soup.........

A most frustrating thing was having a cup full of God's Own Chicken Soup that was too hot to eat just then while trying to run the skirmish line after leaving the camp. Guess that is why the position of "trail arms" was invented. Finally got it cool enough to down the hatch without breaking stride or spilling any. Never had the like and we felt like we could whip the whole world and march forever on "pollo de Banks."

[Spinster]

Re: Stress on Equipment and learning how to best wear stuff

We've kept enough of a breeding line on that flock that you will likely experience pollo de Banks on another campaign event.

And, while they were dang pricey free-range organic chickens to buy, like all well made authentic items, they performed better than the generic stuff, whether in the pot, on the nest (I believe the Federals got the boiled eggs), or in general entertainment value while whipping the little dog Tad.