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Rumblings in the Desert


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Winter Range has no permanent facility so each year it must be built anew from the ground up. Ben Avery shooting range is huge, but it is a multi-use facility and the dozens of ranges are reserved months in advance. The planning for Winter Range goes on year round. However, when set-up begins approximately ten days before the shoot it looks like this.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030044.jpg

 

As the match nears the rumbling in the desert intensifies as new props are built and old ones refurbished. The local herd of wild burrows came over for a look.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0531.jpg

 

Even the tarantulas are coming out to see what the ruckus is about.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0551.jpg

 

What can you expect this year? Stay tuned.

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Don't anyone show or tell my missus, Daisy D'Ablo about there being spiders and/or snakes around the range or I'm gonna have to hog tie her to get her there. Just in case, can somebody please send me instructions on how to hog tie a wild cat!

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Winter Range has no permanent facility so each year it must be built anew from the ground up. Ben Avery shooting range is huge, but it is a multi-use facility and the dozens of ranges are reserved months in advance. The planning for Winter Range goes on year round. However, when set-up begins approximately ten days before the shoot it looks like this.

 

Hey LEP, I don't think your statement is quite true. AIR, there is now a permanent "Fort (Something) Facade" stage at Ben Avery which was built for WR by the ATTGR group. Nonetheless, my wife and and I have enjoyed many memorable years participating at WR. I only wish we are able to participate as volunteers to help set up the stages. Being from Pittsburgh, PA, that is a bit tough. However, since we are now both retired, we may have the opportunity to help at WR 2012. Best wishes to you all, and to a great WR 2011 shoot. We will be there, guns blazing <<GGG>>.

 

Chicken Coop

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What Larsen didn't show you in his little nature walk was a great big surprise comin............

 

Do you want to guess??????????

 

Well do what Scratch tells you and git you application in!!!

 

You all will love the surprise that is going up as we speak...er type .....er blog ....er dern what was it I was talking about??? :FlagAm:

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Coop, not quite. I wasn't referring to the buildings, I was referring to the range as a whole. WR is simply a user and has to compete with everyone else for time and space. Would be nice if WR had a permanent home. WR did build the fort, but it belongs to Ben Avery. We have to reserve it for WR use every year. The facades are only a part of what has to be brought out each year. It has been a big help, but there are still ten (hopefully nine real soon) stages and a host of other things to put up every year. If you look up when Arizona became a State come out a few days earlier than that and we will be glad for the help. The planning for WR 2012 is already underway.

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There will be several new fronts and others than have been refurbished. We started building a WR hot tub but the thought of Scratch skinny dipping during the match caused a change of plan.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0476.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0482.jpg

 

Instead it will be a water tower for the WR train.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0523.jpg

 

 

 

Since Coop mentioned the fort we'll show you a couple of shots of the new wooden floors installed in the fort and the general store the past couple of weeks. A couple of times we were working on the floors while local police were using the facades for training.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030037.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030079.jpg

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Coop, not quite. I wasn't referring to the buildings, I was referring to the range as a whole. WR did build the fort, but it belongs to Ben Avery. We have to reserve it for WR use every year. The facades are only a part of what has to be brought out each year. It has been a big help, but there are still ten (hopefully nine real soon) stages and a host of other things to put up every year. If you look up when Arizona became a State come out a few days earlier than that and we will be glad for the help. The planning for WR 2012 is already underway.

 

Howdy LEP,

 

I hope Annie and I can come out extra early for 2012. We would love to help set up. We do a lot of set up/prop work/art work for three clubs here in western PA, and also do a lot of cowboy/church music for those clubs here.

 

Best wishes,

Chicken Coop

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Howdy LEP,

 

I hope Annie and I can come out extra early for 2012. We would love to help set up. We do a lot of set up/prop work/art work for three clubs here in western PA, and also do a lot of cowboy/church music for those clubs here.

 

Best wishes,

Chicken Coop

 

 

Great! Unless there are numbers to follow I can't paint for a darn.

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Many of the existing fronts are being converted into 3 dimensional fronts to enhance the shooting experience.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030033.jpg

 

The big news is that the green light has finally been given to construct a new permanent building at Ben Avery. This pile of material arrived last week.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/IMG_0030.jpg

 

This is about half of what will be needed for the new building. The foundation was dug within days of getting the go-ahead for another building.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030057.jpg

 

The slab was poured and underground electric installed.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p.../P1030063-1.jpg

 

The framing should start Monday and the WR volunteers will be working almost daily until Winter Range begins to ensure the new building is completed and ready for the shooters' enjoyment. As others have pointed out, the new building will be a working saloon. It should have as much interior space as the existing two buildings, will have a wooden floor and a host of other interior features.

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AIR, there is now a permanent "Fort (Something) Facade" stage at Ben Avery which was built for WR by the ATTGR group.

 

That would be Fort Sinclair, one of the finest tributes ever erected, IMHO.

 

Good luck, GJ

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Chicken Coop,

 

I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say "built by ATTGR"????

 

To set the record straight, Fort Sinclair was built as a joint effort by Winter Range and Arizona Game and Fish. No other groups were involved. The fort is dedicated to the memory of Captain Mike Sinclair, AKA Ol' Dead Eye, a founding father of Winter Range and several other great Arizona matches. The fort is now (by agreement with Winter Range) the property of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

 

Lt Col Scratch

VP Winter Range

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Exactly where is the new building being constructed at the range? I see the berm in the background but can't place it. Inquiring minds are interested.

 

 

It is in Ben Avery Bay A (Winter Range Stage 5). Just in front and a little west of the Stat House.

 

Scratch

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The Winter Range bunch is truely amazing you do more with less than anyone I know or have been associated with with the shooting sports. This here Bud's for you.

12

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Without a doubt this years WR is going to be AWESOME!!!!! The WR team is one of the best, and it has been my pleasure to get to know them!!!! Those folks are great and put on one of the best matches that I have ever shot :blush: Great Job and my hat is off to ya, your efforts are more than worth while!!!!

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Today was a big day. The front wall was built laying on the ground. Took a lot of careful work to get it upright. First it was lifted about 8 feet and deadmen put in to hold it.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030104.jpg

 

Then the front loader was moved to the other side and the front wall moved a foot at a time, re-braced, and moved again until vertical. (Took almost 3 hours.)

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030113.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030126.jpg

 

Then on to the back wall.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030136.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030141.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030143.jpg

 

Done for the day.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030148.jpg

 

Just to try to get an idea of the size of the new saloon, here's a shot of the saloon front. It's quite a ways behind the truck in the foreground. It's 30 feet wide and 23 feet tall. It's still just a skeleton but everyone working on it is starting to get really excited. It will have a fully functional interior and will be a truly fun stage for the Winter Range shooters.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030149.jpg

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Larson;

 

Thanks for the pic's. I'm now even more exited about getting to Winter Range.

You guys do an AWESOME job. I know of no one who does it any better.

 

See ya soon.

Marshal Stone

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Nice to see Lobo Joe has perfected his "Supervisor" skills... :rolleyes:

 

Can't wait to hoist a cool one in the new digs!

 

When I saw the framing for the front and back walls standing up, the thought occurred to me - "Out thru the back door of Rosa's I ran"

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BTT

 

All you folks coming out to play in the desert this year for WR, were going to have some real fun, WR 20th anniversary, only 34 more days to go.

 

TB

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Having followed this post and looked at the photos it is obvious there is a great deal of work by a truly dedicated group going on down there. I applaud you all and can hardly wait for the 20th Anniversary Edition of Winter Range which will be my first visit! We'll see y'all soon!

Colt

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Chicken Coop,

 

I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say "built by ATTGR"????

 

To set the record straight, Fort Sinclair was built as a joint effort by Winter Range and Arizona Game and Fish. No other groups were involved. The fort is dedicated to the memory of Captain Mike Sinclair, AKA Ol' Dead Eye, a founding father of Winter Range and several other great Arizona matches. The fort is now (by agreement with Winter Range) the property of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

 

Lt Col Scratch

VP Winter Range

 

 

Howdy LCS,

 

It has been a few days since I was on the wire. Just saw your note. I guess I had a senior moment. What I wanted to do is credit the construction of Fort Sinclair to the WR "sponsoring SASS/CAS group", which, I now believe, is "The Arizona Territorial Company of Rough Riders" aka ATCRR (yes?), rather than ATTGR. My bad. I apologize.

 

Nonetheless, Annie and I are still coming for our 13th Winter Range match from Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Chicken Coop

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Sunny and 76 today and things are moving at an amazing pace.

 

Side walls in by noon.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030154.jpg

 

The roof rafters were hung and were done by quitting time.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030161.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030165.jpg

 

A shot from the inside and the 16 foot ceiling.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/p...r1/P1030167.jpg

 

 

Now that the Wild Bunch match (132) and the Cowboy match (756) are sold out in addition to tracking progress on range preparation, we'll highlight some of the other things to do at Winter Range. Side matches, the Black Powder Night shoot, Red Shirt Friday, etc.

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