An Overnight encampment in the clouds

          On August 7th, 2009 the Temecula Valley Young Marines met up at their CP for an overnight encampment. The Young Marines and staff had a 3 mile Hump waiting for them that would take them 462 feet up Oak Mountain. The CO was yelling at the staff to hurry up asthe Staff was loading all of the gear and the senior Young Marines were ensuring the Young Marines had water and were formed up a head count was done and ready to go. Time was critical as the sun was going down.

          The unit stepped off at 1930, we were chasing the sun. The pace was somewhat fast on the even terrain and the Senior Young Marines were in the rear with the Security Officer, Radios, Safety Vehicle and Unit 5. The CO and Sgt Noe were up in front along with Mr. Smith who was working with the road guards. YM/1st Sgt Guiles and Young Marine Pvt. Simms lead the way making sure the dirt road was clear of obstacles. Young Marine Sgt Aguilar took charge of the formation.

The CO slowed the pace down as we hit the road leading up to Oak mountain, about half up the road the CO gave everyone a 5 minute break (with the CO’s time so more like 3.8 minutes). The CO looked up and down the formation there were no hump drops and everyone was doing fine. So up the road we went.

The CO did not require any cadence gong up the mountain road instead he said let the Young Marines talk all they want. They will never even know they went up the mountain road. The CO was right the young Marines never stopped talking for almost one hour whew!!

The CO and Sgt Noe sped up the pace a little as the sun started dipping below the mountain top. As the sun started disappearing into the horizon the CO and Sgt. Noe hit the campsite just in time at 2045 as the sun was going down .  The Young Marines unloaded the vehicle and started pitching tents , , . It was a pretty site to see the sun set behind the mountains to the west and see our city highlighted.

After the Young Marines pitched the tents the CO passed on the word that the Young Marines could just sit and relax for the rest of the evening or they could do some more talking and kid play , , . As the Young Marines had fun the CO, Sgt Noe Mr. Smith Mr. Tashoff and Young Marines 1st Sgt. Guiles and MSgt. Guiles dug out the fire pit , , , , , , .

The Young Marines did as the CO said and played and talked the Senior Young Marines were escorting Young Marines to the designated head spots and ensuring no one wandered off. The Fire watch was set a final head count was taken and everyone hit the rack the CO, YM/1stSgt Guiles just hit the ground and went to sleep using a 4X4 for a pillow. Sgt. Noe used a chair by the campfire.

As morning arrived the Young Marines were awakened with reveille as the Young Marines got up and brushed their teeth they were treated to a site you only see in pictures. The Valley and city of Temecula were gone the only thing that was there was an eerie fog that looked like an ocean , , , .

The Young Marines packed up the tents and loaded the vehicle , after a formation and head count we stepped off the CO took us all the way up to the top of Oak Mountain and had the Young Marines get on top of a rock outcropping and take a unit picture above the city of Temecula .

With the picture taken it was down the road we went, we humped down the road to the CP. After the Young Marines unloaded the vehicle and stowed all of the gear the CO had the Senior Young Marines pass out MRE’s. Soon the time came for the Young Marines to be picked up it was a short hike up the mountain another summit added for some and some really cool pictures.