Herndon 2016

OtB

Dont Tread On Me (No step on snake)
5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2015
Messages
217
A few questions regarding the Herndon Climb...

When is it prepared (i.e. covered & greased)?
When do spectators start arriving (i.e. # hours before start)?
What are the ingress/egress paths for the participants?
Where are the best vantage points?
 
A few questions regarding the Herndon Climb...

When is it prepared (i.e. covered & greased)?
When do spectators start arriving (i.e. # hours before start)?
What are the ingress/egress paths for the participants?
Where are the best vantage points?
I would love to know the answers to these questions too
 
They usually start the day before or morning of greasing it. The area for the Plebes will be roped off as they will have water being sprayed on them to keep things cool. It ends up being a mud pit. Plebes will start in T Court and then rush the monument. There will be a roped off path for them to make the mad dash. Usually everyone will line that first. The Supt and their party sit on the Chapel steps as that is elevated. The Plebe who puts the cover on makes his way over there for the presentation of the Admiral Shoulder boards and singing of Blue & Gold. After that it's done. This event can take 2-4+ hours. Bring a chair, hat, sunscreen and water. Around the 3 hour mark the event actually sort of turns into... Hurry Up Plebes! As a Plebe this event was fun for about about an hour. It's hot, the water is freezing, your eyes burn, it's gross and you just want it over so you can go on Liberty and walk around the halls like a normal human. Honestly, I always sat back in a comfy chair and watched a little further back. It's a long event, you have time to wonder around for photos. Everyone will get closer as they get closer and closer to the top. Folks will line up in the morning. A lot of that is due to commissioning week traffic and just busy-ness on the yard.
 
Agree with everything Hoops said except the time. Last year it was done in 1 hour, 38 minutes, 36 seconds.

If you are going to be there, that is a great opportunity to take group photos of your DD/DS with their companymates when they are lined up and pumped. Another great opportunity for pictures of companymates/roommates after mission accomplished when they are still dirty/greasy/muddy. Save that Kodak moment that they and future generations will treasure forever!
 
An hour before it even started last year people had staked out real estate--so get there early and set up chairs and blankets. We watched in shifts!
 
1.5 hours is quick. I watched a class that had the Dixie Cup duct taped to the top of Herndon. The class finally got their prior enlisted SEAL to sit on top of Herndon and he took the anchor off the combo cover and cut the tape with the anchor and his teeth to replace it. Dixie's aren't allowed to be taped anymore after that.
 
Wow. Cannot imagine how difficult it would be if the cover was taped to the top. Last years was more of a ring toss approach. If I remember, wet, wadded-up blue rims knocked the Dixie cup off and from there the plebes just kept tossing covers up in hopes one would stick.
 
Back
Top