So... who is going to Nationals??

Ghostofwar · Post by **Ghostofwar** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:35 pm

How does the match break down? I forget how they run the whole thing. Isn't there a practice/sight in day before? If there is, is that included in the dates August 2nd-4th or would it be on the 1st? Whats the deal with Competitor housing?

kevinbear · Post by **kevinbear** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:55 pm

Thanks for checking that out Mary, hope to see you there.

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:40 am

Ghostofwar,
Competitor housing is a series of buildings clustered around a central 'living room' that has wings off of it. Each wing has 5 bedrooms around a kitchen and his and her bathrooms which is shared by the occupants of that wing. Each bedroom has two single beds and a locking closet for each bed. You can bring your own sheets etc. or get some at Whittington. The pillows available are usually pretty wimpy, bring your own or hit the local Wally or Kmart and pick up some for uner $5. The kitchens are usually equipped with very basic stuff, like one or two pots, some knives, generally I pick up paper plates etc at the local stores. Charges for these rooms are cheaper if you share...in other words find someone you can room with. They are not the Hilton or Marroitt...but a lot more fun as last time we had the different pods cooking dinner each night, so there was some great food and no one got stuck cooking every night. There are coin laundry facilities at Whittington so if you plan on the whole week you can do laundry if needed. It is only about 6 miles into Raton and 30 or so to Trinidad CO so any stuff you forgot is reasonably close. Several interesting sights close by, extinct volcano to the east, beautiful mountains to the west, day trip to Santa Fe, or up to Colorado Springs to the olympic center.

The Whittington always has something going on, but usually there is shooting on the silhouette ranges for sight in the day before, not sure what the daily use charges are as my son is a life member there as my CPA also. The matches are usually standard in the morning and hunter inthe afternoon for the three days. Awards are done for each match each day, but don't count on them being quick to get that out and done. The matches actually start on the 2nd.

Hope this answers your questions.
Innocent Mary

Ghostofwar · Post by **Ghostofwar** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:09 pm

Thanks Innocent. Thats how I thought things played out for the competition. I guess I'll be getting in late on the 31st or early the 1st.

I will have to look into staying in the housing. Sounds kinda like the barracks in Camp Lejeune. I'll more than likely fly, so I don't know if I'll have enough luggage space or pillows, sheets, clothes, rifle, ammo, and gear. Now you have me thinking about getting there early or staying later for sightseeing. This might be an expensive trip...

jneihouse · Post by **jneihouse** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:26 pm

The St James Hotel down in Cimmaron is interesting if you like Old West history and haunted places....Close enough for a side trip....Olympic training center is in Colorado Springs, well worth a look see...

Kitty

pistolero45 · Post by **pistolero45** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:33 pm

Has anyone used the tent campground at Whittington? How was it? Thanks.

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:39 pm

pistolero45, I have camped in the modern campground, at Whitington, typical facilities. They also have a primitive camp ground for tenters, keep in mind that there are bear, while that will not intimidate you, it may change how you pack. I have known several that tent and they seem to enjoy it. Whittington is just a great facility and yes there are a number of places to go sight seeing that are day trips from there.

Ghostofwar, ABQ and Colorado Springs are the closest large airports, both about 200 miles plus from Raton, but typically less expensive to fly into. I have also flown into El Paso but I have family and property on the SE corner of NM so there was other reasons for coming in that far away.
Anyway you come, drive or fly the Whittington Center is worth the trip and makes dealing with the incompentancies of Greg Conner's ability to run a great match seem trivial.

Mary

pistolero45 · Post by **pistolero45** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:23 pm

When it comes to camping, I do not mind roughing it. However, my wife and daughter will want a modern bathroom nearby. And if there is one thing I have learned in the past 20 years, it is this: If the women are not happy, no body is going to be happy!

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:15 am

Msrk,
Obviously they have you well trained! The full hook up camp ground modern plumbing facilities are good, I think they charge more per night for those spots. There is less shade trees in the modern camp ground but I would just plan on letting them do day trips to Angel Fire, Santa Fe etc. and hitching rides to and from the range with other shooters, which is no problem. The smallbore silhouette range is a bit of a hike, nice walk empty handed but carrying equipment might be too much.
Look forward to seeing you there, if not before then.

Mary

cslcAl · Post by **cslcAl** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:37 am

There will be the usual group of Pa. shooters wearing our Sierra green. Just a note on competitor housing; I called yesterday and the rooms I reserved were the last ones available. Al

dwl · Post by **dwl** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:48 am

No more rooms?

dwl · Post by **dwl** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:50 am

Oops, just read Saturdays post.

cslcAl · Post by **cslcAl** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:18 am

I would call them anyway to verify. Sometimes they get things goofed up there. I do know though we could not get any rooms in competitor housing on July 31, our arrival date. We had to get a bunk cabin for one night. Al

deadeyeky · Post by **deadeyeky** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:08 pm

Me and my dad are goin for our first time for SB and HP, we are stayin in competitor housing, and reserved our room in the same wing as Bob and Jeanie Hershey, (thanks for all the info about housing Jeanie).

im thinkin to get 2 bricks of higher end eley to feed my 1416 and my 10/22

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:33 am

Kyle, look forward to seeing you and the Calfornia camp can whip up some good meals...I speak from experience there.

Mary