Indianola Site Report
Comrades,
Saturday the 9th, Dima, Dave Ruffcorn and I got out to the event site. We got firewood cut, the mock villages staked out, Russian road signs placed and several other things done. I spent most of Saturday clearing the pass to the washed out bridge. Several large trees had fallen blocking the road during the summer wash out. With my trusty chainsaw in hand I hacked away the trees and cleared the overgrowth so the bridge building scenario can take place. Because of all the work it required to clear the road, this landmark shall now forever be known as Konstantin?s Pass. LOL
I officially hate thorny vines with a passion. D?oh
Some more pre-event prep will be done Friday before the event. That is going to be stuff that wouldn?t last two weeks in the open with 2 more storms forecast.
After the work we had a meeting at a local restaurant to go over logistics. Everything is set.
Here are some more points?
There is 6-8? of snow on the site. With some drifts well over a foot. We have 2 more minor storms forecast this week and who knows what next week. Doesn?t look like there will be any melt off at all as temps are forecast to be around freezing or below.
Snow is extremely fatiguing to march in. Add to the fact the site is a valley with steep hills leading into it. The downhill part is not to bad, but coming out is painful. Folks need to be aware of their physical limitations. This is not a city park battle with flat fields and trees. This is like 80 acres of rolling terrain, with heavy woods covered in about a foot of snow. Truly a good eastern front feel to it. It does need more white birch trees to truly be like Russia. LOL
This woods has a lot of sharp thorny things in it. Locust trees with barbs sharp enough to penetrate leather work gloves. Thorn bushes, thorn vines. Iowa seems to have a lot of thorny plants. Be aware of this, as with improper gloves or what not your hands could become bloody and painful.
There is also a lot of downed tree branches from the ice storm back in December. I cleared the ones off the road I saw, but some are buried under the snow. I rolled my ankle on one.
In essence what I am saying it standard woodland hazards are everywhere. The creek is flowing under a little ice. But Dima put his foot through the ice into it. Then it promptly froze. LOL
Just be careful.
We are going to try to have a large area cleared for parking. Cars will need to be stacked up. Car-pooling is highly encouraged. Overflow may end up parking along HWY 65/69. Parking in the summer is not an issue, but in the winter we don?t have the field to park in. That stinks, but we?ll work it out.
The kitchen will have to be up by registration. With all the snow on the ground we will not be able to get it to the lower warming station. Lunch will be brought down the hill from the kitchen and served at the lower warming station.
Speaking of lunch. The weather contingency plan is this. Should it be bad and Todd & the Kitchen can not make it, we will waive the battle fee and not longer serve a meal. Folks should bring their own food to lunch in the field if this is the case.
Also for the hot lunch please bring mess kits and utensils.
To encourage Russian participation we have a minor blanks issue. For the first 20 Russians, not members of the 416th, who are using bolt action 7.62x54 rifles. Sorry we are not buying sub-blanks, nor German blanks.
Battle fee has been set at $10. This covers the porto, water, lunch and materials. Any extra money will be donated for site improvement after costs are recovered.
I am sure there is stuff I am forgetting. Dima can add any points he can think of.
This is going to be a good event. Lots of fun. Just be safe out there. It is winter and winter can mess folks up real bad.
Oh speaking of winter, we will monitor the weather as the event approaches. Should we have to pull the plug due to a winter storm we will try to let everyone know ASAP. Let us all pray for good weather.
Any questions, concerns, or comments please let me know. My email is: redkommissar@hotmail.com
Later all,
-dave