5/26/2012 Training Exercise Debrief

Date: 5/26/2012
Exercise: Hike from base to top of Flat Rock Trail
This is a simple task. Start at the base at Colonel Denning State Park and proceed to the view at Flat Rock.
Mission Specifics: The trail is approx. 2.5 miles of mixed terrain. The finishing altitude is 1987 ft. Majority of the terrain is rocky or swampy.
Weather: Predicted: Warm, humid, possible thunder showers. 
                 Actual: Hot (92*), very humid, sunny and hazy.
Involved: Myself (Civilian), CD (Military), ZK (Ex-Military)

Report:
The first thing I wanted to pay attention to was the clothing. I was in a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes with a simple urban backpack. CD wore t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes with a Camelback. ZK was in what most people would call "Contractor Apparel" and hiking shoes with a camera bag. 

The Second thing i wanted to pay attention to was the gear. This is where things surprised me.
 CD carried:
1. Camelback (contained 6 bottles of water)
2. Small caliber firearm
3. Multitool
4. Small amount of personal effects.

ZK carried: 
1. Camera bag containing equipment
2. 2 Bottles of water


I carried:
1. First Aid Kid
2. Small caliber firearm
3. small LED flashlight
4. 2 2-quart canteens
5. Digital Camera
6. 2 100-Calorie fruit cups
7. Paracord
8. 2 Bandanas
9. Shemagh
10. 1 queen-size bed sheet

I knew this would only be a couple hour trip but I was prepared for a worst case scenario. However what surprised me was the amount of weight that those few objects could make. In attempts to be prepared I made a small urban style backpack a burden to get up the 2.5 mile trail.

What surprised me the most was my (piss poor) physique and lack of motivation to take this exercise on. I was sweating and losing my breath an eighth of a mile in, and wanting to turn back and go home a quarter mile in. However, the rest of the team wouldn't let me. They rearranged the gear and continued on.

The weather was obnoxiously hot and humid. We were told on return that a hiking trip like this shouldn't have been done a day like that.


The exercise was a success. No one was injured. Total time was around 5 hours.