LOCATION
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Directions From Points South:
From Tappan zee Bridge
Get on the New York State Thruway-North (“87N”)
Take Exit 16 –“Harriman/Route 17 & Route 6”
After toll at Exit 16, take Route 17 West
Follow directions below
Directions From Points South:
From George Washington Bridge
Get onto the Palisades Parkway-North
Take Exit 9W –“Albany”
Get on the NY State Thruway-North (87N)
Take Exit 16 – “Harriman/Rtes 17 & 6”
After toll at Exit 16, take Route 17 West
Follow directions below
From Points North on the NY State Thruway:
Take Exit 17 for “Newburgh”
Follow signs for Route 84
Take 84 West for “Middletown”
Take Exit 4 West for “Route 17 West & Binghamton”
Follow directions below
Directions From New Jersey:
Take Route 287 or NJ Route 17 North
Get on the NY State Thruway North (87N)
Take Exit 16 - for “Harriman/Rtes 17 & 6”
After toll at Exit 16, take Route 17 West
Follow directions below
FOR ROUTE 17 WEST
Take Exit 120 for Route 211 (“Middletown/ Montgomery”)
Make a Right turn at the traffic light at bottom of exit ramp.
(This will put you on Route 211 East , towards Montgomery)
Follow Route 211 East for 8/10ths of a mile
PASS the Galleria Mall traffic light to the 2nd traffic light
At the traffic light, where Eckerds Pharmacy is,
Make a left turn onto Blumel Road
Follow the road up the hill (1.2 miles),
PASS the cemetary on the right
Go through the next traffic light and continue for another 1& ½ miles
Just after passing the stone house on the left,
Make a left turn onto Lybolt Road
Follow Lybolt Road for 1.1 miles
You will see stone pillars and a sign on the left side
The sign says “Ring Homestead Camp”
Make a left turn into driveway at that sign
Go halfway up the hill and park on your left
DIRECTIONS FROM THE CATSKILLS OR POINTS EAST
Take Route 17 East
Take Exit 116 for Route 17K
Make a left turn at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp
Follow 17K for approximately 3 miles
At the traffic light, where Route 17K and Route 302 meet, make a right turn onto Route 302. Then make an
IMMEDIATE left turn onto Lybolt Road. If you made the correct turns, “Stonehedge” Farm Market will be on your left.
Follow Lybolt Road for 1.9 miles
(DO NOT bear left onto Gordon Road, instead follow the road to the right.)
Our driveway is 3/10th mile passed the sign for “Huffcut OR Brimstone Hill Rd”
On the right will be stone pillars and a sign that says “Ring Homestead Camp”
Make a right turn into the driveway, parking is on the left halfway up the driveway
WEATHER
The current weather report for Saturday, is forecasting high temps in the upper 40s. So make sure to dress warmly enough for the days activities. As always, dressing in layers is an excellent idea as it will allow you to add or remove layers as needed. Also, while the weather is looking good now, we will be playing RAIN OR SHINE. Should the forecast change dramatically before the 19th, keep this in mind.
10 Day Forecast for Middletown, NY
PRIZES
For the first time, the AXP Graduate chapter will be awarding prizes for heroic actions. In addition to an MVP award, we will also be awarding prizes for the Best Bruise / Welt, Sportsmanship, and LVP (least valuable player) a.k.a., the Chicken shit award. If you are unable to distinguish yourself during the day, you still have hope as we will be giving out numerous door prizes / raffles. Entry in these drawings are included in your admission.
***Note: Any instances of cheating, i.e. "wiping" off paint, or overshooting (repeatedly shooting an already eliminated player) will effectively disqualify you from receiving any awards. Depending on the nature of the infraction, you may be penalized further by having to sit out one game ***
OTHER FAQ
For those of you who have not played paintball before, the following information may be helpful:
1) Where are we going??
-We will be heading up to Ring Homestead Paintball Field in scenic Middletown
NY.
2) What should I bring?
-Well, as I've told most of you already, wear loose dark fitting clothes.
Remember, we will be running, jumping, sliding, crawling all over the field.
For shoes, sneakers or boots are fine, I generally wear an old pair of baseball
spikes. You should also try to wear a hat or something to cover your head. The
field will provide everyone with a mask but the mask does not cover your entire
head. Again...dark colors are preferable. Some people will suggest wearing a
cup...that's totally up to you. I don't really think they're necessary but if
you'll feel safer wearing one...by all means, go right ahead. Also, be sure to
bring a change of clothes for afterwards. In addition to a change of
clothes, you may want to bring some cash. Everything you need for the day
is included in the price, however, the field has a proshop with all sorts of
accessories. You may want to buy gloves, or a paint grenade...who knows.
Also, the price for the day includes 1000 paintballs, which should be more than
enough to last you the entire day. However, if you run out and want to
buy more, you will need cash to do so. Last time we were here A case of
paint (2000 rounds) cost $65.00.
3) What's the object of the game?
-Most games are one of three formats. Capture the flag, Center Flag, and
Elimination.
Capture the flag - Each team starts out at opposite ends of the field.
Normally these ends or bases are fortified with bunkers and other forms of
cover. within this area, each team will have a flag. The object of the game is
to capture the opposing teams flag, and bring it back to your "base".
Center Flag - This is a variation of Capture the flag in which there is only one
flag, placed in the center of the field. The object of the game is to get the
flag, and hang it in your opponents base.
Elimination - Pretty self explanatory, last team with standing players wins.
No flags, no real objectives other than shoot the other guy.
Other games which we probably won't play are Attack Defend / Cyborg / Scenario
Based. If interested I can explain what each of those games are.
4) This sounds pretty scary...does it hurt??
-Ok...once and for all, let me try to explain. It depends. 1) It depends on the
distance from which you are hit. Obviously, getting hit from 20 ft away hurts a
lot more than getting hit from 40 ft. It depends on where you get hit...a Mask
hit (most common) generally doesn't hurt at all, it's surprising, and
embarrassing...but you can't even feel it. Getting hit on legs / arms / back is
all about the same. It kinda feels like getting snapped with a rubber band, or getting
smacked by a ruler. After a few seconds, you don't even notice it. Last time I
played I got shot in the ribs from some psycho high school kid from about 15
feet away. That hurt. but keep in mind, that was from close range, in a
vulnerable area, which I was totally unsuspecting. 2 seconds later I couldn't
even feel it.
5) How can I make it hurt less??.
-The best way to keep the discomfort down is to wear loose clothing. In theory,
the loose clothes absorb some of the impact before it gets to you.
Layers help, but then you run the risk of overheating. Just grow a set, wipe
some dirt on it, and deal.
6) Tell me more about the guns!!!
-Based on the website for the field, they rent Tippmann Custom 98s with
Compressed Air. Tippmanns are the toyotas of the paintball world. They can take
all sorts of abuse.
Tippmann 98. As
you can see from the picture, the gun (or Marker) has a paint container on top
that feeds the paintballs into the chamber and an air tank that screws into the
grip. All markers run on either Co2 or Compressed Air. If you run out of air
pressure, and you probably will, the field refills it. I don't want to get too
technical on the marker itself, but I'll answer any questions you have, just
ask.
****IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS*****
Regardless of which game we play....always follow these rules:
NEVER TAKE YOUR MASK OFF
DO NOT SHOOT AT SOMEONE WHO IS CLOSER THAN 10 FEET AWAY (Fields differ on
this..but most of the time, just scream SURRENDER!!!!, and they are eliminated)
USE BARREL PLUGS WHENEVER NOT ON A FIELD AS SOON AS YOU GET HIT, PUT YOUR HANDS
UP IN THE AIR (otherwise, the guy who just shot you may keep shooting)
So that's pretty much all you need to know...the referees will explain more to
you before we play, because they have to. But you won't learn anything different
than what you just read.
Any questions / problems / concerns let me know.