Hail! The Atomic Apples of Doom.

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. You came, you built ... a lean-to of trees and a few tarps, you slept in it when the temperature kissed the 0º F mark. And you didn't whine.

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. You built fire (or borrowed it), you pulled limbs from trees to protect yourselves, you tested yourselves in the white cold. And you didn't whine.

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. You shared your limited food, you respected each other, you helped each other. And you didn't whine.

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. You were tired, you were thirsty, you were HUNGRY. And you didn't whine.

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. It was my honor to share the lean-to with you for two nights. It was my honor to help you strike the flint and steel for fire. It was my honor to listen to you talk unself-consciously as the night deepened. It was my honor to trek the snowy woods with you, to look out over the wintery landscape with you, to assist you when you needed guidance and make sure no one lagged too far behind. And you didn't whine.

The Atomic Apples of Doom in the 2006 Winter Survival program were:

Nate - ex-officio leader whose attitude was light and positive and which didn't flag even in a cold water dowsing in front of his girlfriend

Bennett - silent but deadly in more ways than one, ex-officio second-in-charge

Jacob - gives as good as he gets and more

Drew - poet, Republican and inveterate burrito lover

Johnny - skin and bones who held his own; he felt the pain of cold others missed which he'll be stronger for

Josh - Dude, shades inside or out, day or night; his approval a must for the others

Zack - one speed and always going easy; two left gloves - no matter; melted nalgene water bottle - oh well!

Hail! Atomic Apples of Doom. You know who you are. You know what you did. Be proud. And you didn't whine. Much.

Thanks for sharing an unique experience. I listened while you talked the adolescent talk of males before sleep. I watched while you walked the adolescent walk of males when the girls were present and when it was just the Apples. I watched you share and support each other. I saw you rib and rough each other up and never going too far. Yeah, you went too far in search of fun and it was stupid but you came back safely.

You were great. Thanks for being yourselves. Thank your parents and community for supporting such an endeavor in the public schools. It may have been bitchin' cold but you have new respect for the cold and better understand it. You were closer to nature - whether you will choose to do so again or not is immaterial. You'll fear it less and understand it more.

And no, you probably never will zip two sleeping bags together for a co-ed winter's night anytime soon. But keep dreaming the dream - its natural on a cold night at any age. Keep dreaming, Atomic Apples, it keeps you young even when you want to be so much older.

Hail!




Home Sweet Home for 2 very cold nights. Hand-hewn, hand-built.







All that was between us, a full moon and the crackling cold night.







Fire?? Maybe?? The flint and steel and tinder = fire?





February, 2006 on the Navy Survival and Endurance Training Range.