Folks,
Just wanted to let everyone know we did not call the match off for "rain." Still, my apologies to everyone who drove out here. As of Friday night, we thought we could pull it off, and everyone had already driven if they were driving from any distance away.
This has been a 50-year-flood kind of event.
For those who have not been to the Anchor-T Ranch where we run, Salt Draw ( a usually dry arroyo) cuts our running course in half).
Friday we were able to take range officers out to the shooting stations using the 4wd School Bus and snow chains for traction. It was the only vehicle that would cross the draw.
Saturday morning, the water was up a couple more feet, and the Bus wasn't going to make it either.
And, the water was deep enough, and running hard enough, that it was truly dangerous to try and cross people on foot. Drowning someone with 25 pounds of gear on was a real possibility.
And, the Salt draw cuts the main road in to the ranch from Toyah, as well. It was impassible Saturday morning.
Getting everyone off the ranch (towing people threw the bad mud) took several hours and a lot of teamwork with 300 feet of tow ropes and chains linked together.
Getting everyone across the Salt Draw closer to Toyah on the main road took another couple of hours. We started the convoy moving around 12 noon, with news that the Red Bluff Dam on the Pecos might give, and that would wipe out every bridge on the Pecos, cutting us off from the rest of Texas. I brought my crew into the house at 8pm. It was a long, long day.
Range Officers - Good job yesterday folks getting everyone out with no injuries. You are a damn fine team.
AND - remember to drain and refill your differentials. After that much fording, you probably sucked some water in, and it will chew up your diffs.
I'm sure there will be some pictures and such up on the website before long.
Smokey