What can you tell me about Ft Drum. I've heard that it's really cold, which I'm used to. But what about the units, the facilities, the environment, etc... Is it a decent place to bring a spouse? How far is it from any big cities? Overall what do you think of the post.
If I remember the location correctly you are close to the Canadian Border and nearly across the state from "the big city". Winters are cold and you can get "dumped on" in the winter time with snow from the lakes. I wanted to get stationed there because it was closer to home, but sort of glad I didn't because they are deployed and then re-deploying soon. That is all I know... the area is beautiful to some and baren to others.
Posts: 295 | Location: Somewhere out there | Registered: 25 September 2003
Being from that area, I can tell you that its cold, but most the time it only gets down to about -10 (i can say only because its -20 right now). The town outside of Ft. Drum is Watertown...not really the best town on earth, but at least it has a walmart. Canada is about 30 minites drive away up the interstate, Toronto is the best, but Toronto is 3-4 hours away. They do get deployed alot, I have a friend there that has been home for about 2 months out of the last year and a half. It's what people say "theres no place better then the place you just left, and no place worse then the place your going." if you make the best of it, you will have fun whereever you go.
Posts: 48 | Location: Arcitc Warriors! in Iraq!? | Registered: 03 January 2004
[quote:2d61934c0a="MI33W"]Being from that area, I can tell you that its cold, but most the time it only gets down to about -10 (i can say [i:2d61934c0a]only[/i:2d61934c0a] because its -20 right now). The town outside of Ft. Drum is Watertown...not really the best town on earth, but at least it has a walmart. Canada is about 30 minites drive away up the interstate, Toronto is the best, but Toronto is 3-4 hours away. They do get deployed alot, I have a friend there that has been home for about 2 months out of the last year and a half. It's what people say "theres no place better then the place you just left, and no place worse then the place your going." if you make the best of it, you will have fun whereever you go.[/quote:2d61934c0a]
is that including windchill? I'm pretty used to the cold and high altitudes and winds. I'm originally from Idaho where the winters have been known to get around -20 with windchill.
Also, how exactly do those cold weather boots work? I've seen them and they look kinda goofy.
"Bunny" Boots are the best... I was stationed in AK for 3 years and they are a must-have for the field. My feet never got cold, in fact, You gotta change your socks a lot b/c of the sweat. And this is when we were out in -35! With all the cold weather gear you get issued in that type of climate, Its your own fault if you sustain a cold weather injury. If you wear your gear right, then you will be nice and warm.
[quote:37637ee2c4="xJudgex"] is that including windchill? I'm pretty used to the cold and high altitudes and winds. I'm originally from Idaho where the winters have been known to get around -20 with windchill. [/quote:37637ee2c4]
Since you know what a Eastern Oregon winter can feel like. Forget it. Ft Drum is in the NE, not the Great NW. Difference? It's called humidity. You know when we run around with t-shirt at 22*, and a long sleeve at 15 or less.? Well, let's just say, a humid cold will put frost on the bones, you will be cold at 32* and frikking never been that cold before in your life when it drops below 20. I'm not trying to put fear in you, but when I was at Knox (KY) it got down to single digits a few times. I was wearing every piece of sniveal gear I had, from my poly-pros all the way out to lined gortex top and bottom, with CW boots, and still thought that hell had actually frozen over.
A humid cold is unexplainable to us, but the wetness 'sinks' into the body.
Posts: 32 | Location: NE Oregon | Registered: 31 December 2003
Hello, Well I am at Ft. Drum right now and I can tell you that it gets unbearably cold sometimes. This winter we got some -40 with the wind chill. As far as things to do, watertown is not the place to be. Syracuse is about an hour away and of course there is Canada. Hope this helps..........
Posts: 4 | Location: ft. drum | Registered: 23 November 2003
I joined the army from Pendleton 4 years ago. Are you by chance stationed there?[/quote:9a595370f7]
No. But I know where Pendleton is. I have covered down there for a drill weekend when they were doing testing. I'm the "rover" I go from Boise, all the way to The Dalles, and Camp Relia. I'm an RTD "Regional Training Detachment", HQ'd in Boise, with independent small units all along I-84. Ontario, Baker City, La Grande, Pendleton, Hermiston, Umatillia, The Dalles, luckily not all the way to Portland!
Posts: 32 | Location: NE Oregon | Registered: 31 December 2003
HEY,FT.DRUM IS A NORTHERN, LAKE EFFECTED AREA WITH A LOT OF BEAUTY. I WAS STATIONED THERE FOR 4 YRS AND HAD TO LEAVE. HOWEVER NOW THAT I DID LEAVE I HUNGER FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL NORTH COUNTRY. UPSTATE NY IS GOD'S COUNTY. IF YOU ENJOY COLD WEATHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SNOW BOARDING AND SNOW MOBILING EVEN BETTER. IF THE SPOUSE DOES NOT LIKE THE OUTDOORS OR SMALL TOWN AMERICA YOU MAY A PROBLEM, BUT BREAK HER IN IF NOT. WATERTOWN HAS APPLE BEE'S, A MALL WITH A GOOD MOVIE THEATRE, CHINESE BUFFET'S, RED LION'S BREWERY, AND A DECENT BOWLING ALLEY ON RTE 11, I BELEIVE. LAKE PLACID AND WHITE FACE MNT IS NOT FAR EAST AT ALL. 1000 ISLAND STATE PARK AND THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY IS JUST NORTH 20 MINS. IF YOU LIKE FISHING YOUR IN LUCK. I'VE NEVER SEEN SALMON SO BIG. SACKET'S HARBOR IS 15 MIN'S WEST WHERE THE WAR OF 1812 WAS. PRETTY COOL HISTORIC FACT AND THERE'S EVEN A MONUMENT AND MUSEUM FOR THE FOLK'S WHO VISIT YOU TO SEE. KINGSTON ONTERIO IS JUST OVER THE SEAWAY NORTH 45 MIN'S. NICE DECENT SIZE CANADIAN CITY AND NOT TOO FAR. YOU KNOW THE 10TH MTN IS INDEED A RAPIDLY DEPLOYED UNIT BUT YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE LOVE ONE'S. AFTER LEAVING I'VE SEEN THAT 10TH MTN ALTHOUGH DEPLOYED OFTEN IS PRETTY FAMILY CENTERED COMPARED TO OTHER UNITS. THIS WILL DICTATE FROM YOUR CHAIN HOWEVER. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED, ENJOY YOUR TIME, PUT IN A PASS ON A 3 DAY AND DRIVE 3 HRS TO NIAGRE FALLS WITH THE WIFEY. IT'LL BE GOOD, JUST ENJOY THE PLACE AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT. I'LL BE SPENDING MY TIME THERE IN2 MTHS DRINKING PITCHERS OF BEER, BOWLING, AND HAVING SOME FUN WITH THE FAMILY. STAY AWAY FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH, PASTER DOBISHI IS AN EXTREMIST. ST ANTHONY'S IS A NICE CATHOLIC CHURC IN WATERTOWN IF INTERESTED I RECOMMEND. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE LIGHTWEIGHTS SAY.
I WAS STATIONED IN FORT DRUM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, AND I LOVED IT. THE PEOPLE. VERY MILITARY SUPPORTING TOWN. SYRACUSE WAS FUN AS WELL AS CANADA. MONTREAL IS THE BEST TO VISIT.
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