Hey Chris/Gunlaker

[Don McDowell]

To keep from running off with Bryan's thread, and it does appear the nastiest troll in the country is tired of being ignored... I thought we could continue the conversation here.
To give you some idea of the heat problems at Raton, yes this year was an abnormally cool and damp year throughout most of the southern Rockies and the High Plains. Crops were delayed several weeks due to the cooler and wetter weather. There was some really cold waves that came thru in July that are not the normal by any stretch. So anybody that's telling you different is doing so with a great amount of falsehood.
Remember that's the same guy that tried and tried to tell you that Byers match was not an NRA registered match, and you shouldn't attend because of it wasn't..
Anyway here's a link you might find interesting that was put up by the NRA competions director at the time,, notice the often and frequent mention of the heat. Also look close at the pictures and you'll see the way the shooters are dressed and also notice the shine on their skin, that wasn't from a make up session for the photo shoot.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nra/ssus...startid=24

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Don. That was a nice article to read.

It was a weird weather year up here too. We had some serious heat when you guys were getting the wet weather. I remember everyone at Byers telling me that it was not normally that green at this time of year. If it was up to me I'd rather shoot in the cooler weather than the hotter weather, but I'll show up at a couple of these big matches one way or another.

Byers is definitely at the top of my list. I don't worry too much about whether it's an NRA match or not as I'm an unclassified Canadian anyway :-) :-).

Next on my list is either Steve R.'s match in March, or the Nationals at Raton. I'll probably just pick one of those two, most likely Arizona. The trickiest part will be getting through the snow and ice in March. I might be in a tent :-). I'm likely to go to Worland again, as that was a good time.

Chris.

[Don McDowell]

You shouldn't have any problem getting to Phoenix in March if you stay over to the west as long as you can. Once you get headed south of the interstate on the north end of Nevada the weather shouldn't be much of a threat.
Byers is one of the great matches to be sure. The weather there this year was a bit cooler than normal.
Hopefully Nick has that match again. Haven't heard much out of him about it yet, but then it's still early.

[bryany]

Chris, I camped at Phoenix in a tent last year in March. It wasn't too bad but got breezy once or twice. Stake it down good and don't face the door west.

It's a pretty good camp ground, water, shower houses/rest rooms, etc. You shouldn't need reservations but it won't hurt. Go online and see what the rates and details are.

Bryan

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Bryan. I've got a four season mountaineering tent that'll have no trouble handling the wind. It has lots of points for staking. Assuming that I can get it set up before it blows away :-) :-).

Thanks for the tip about not facing west. Is that where the wind usually comes from?

Chris.

[Kurt]

And for a $30. yearly membership you might get the primitive camp ground at no cost ?? and free range use with the targets included.
I stop there when ever I'm close passing by. I will be stopping in a couple weeks and around March or April going and coming to Cactus land.

Kurt

[Gunlaker]

We just came back from a big road trip ( 22 states and 2 provinces not including where we live. ). We passed through what I though would be cactus land New Mexico and Arizona, but didn't see a single saguero cactus. I remember them near Phoenix when we visited when I was a kid.

Chris.

[bryany]

You don't see any of the big cactus until you drop below 3000 ft in Arizona, about half way between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

Yes, I think the prevailing wind is from the west, at least that is what we had last year.

Bryan

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Bryan. My wife and I will probably head back to Arizona for some hiking next fall. Although it'll likely be the Grand Canyon again. She might come with me in March, but not if I bring a tent :-)

Chris.