Headquarters

Army Ground Forces Association

Fort Hancock Harbor Defense Historic Hike

Saturday 19 May, 1:30 PM through 6:30 PM

Join volunteer members of the Army Ground Forces Association as they turn the clock back to May of 1943 and take you on a four mile walking tour of selected fortifications of Fort Hancock!

This walk will take you deep into history as we visit many of the forgotten locations of Fort Hancock's storied past!

Your guides will be volunteers who restore, preserve and interpret Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck for the National Park Service.

Tour attendance is limited, so be sure to register soon!

The cost to register is $15.

Number Attending

Your payment of $15 supports the work of Army Ground Forces Association, the included 1940’s period light picnic, and is tax deductible!

Upon acceptance of my participation/entry, I, for myself, my heirs and assigns, hereby release the sponsors and officials of the AGFA Historic Hike and any persons, groups, organizations, etc. associated directly or indirectly with the event from any liability arising from illness, injury or death I may suffer as a result of participation in this event. I attest I am physically fit and am able to participate in this event and that I am aware that my participation could in some circumstances result in physical injury. The NPS and Volunteers are prohibited from transporting public participants in privately owned vehicles. Those who desire to participate in the hike must be able to either (1) complete the hike unassisted or (2) have coordinated BEFORE the hike for someone other than NPS or AGFA personnel to transport them from any point along the tour route. I give my permission for free use of my picture/photo in any broadcast, telecast or written account of this event. I understand that my registration fee is non-refundable

Hike Map

The Program:

Park at the Gunnison Beach parking (Lot G) and meet at Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck. The orientation briefing will start at approximately 1:30 PM. We will depart Battery Gunnison/New Peck at approximately 1:45 PM and follow the route on the map above.

The hike will start by proceeding down Atlantic Drive and enter the South Beach Dune Trail. Along this trail we will see the “disappearing search light” positions, generator facilities, and the general area of the Army’s Top Secret radar testing station.

We will visit Fishing Beach where most of the radar testing was conducted and see fortifications that remain at that location.

We will then proceed to Battery Mills where we will have a light 1940’s era picnic and learn about the Battery and its two 12-inch seacoast rifles which fired 975 pound shells to a range of 17 miles.

On our way back to Gunnison Parking lot, we will see several other components of the fortifications of Fort Hancock.

Keep the registration web page on your smart phone and access the tour information documents, maps and photographs during the hike. We will update you as we post additional items to the page. You can access these documents using your smartphone during the hike.

Basic Information

Distance – about 5 miles Pace is moderate.

We will depart Battery Gunnison/New Peck at 1:45 PM

We will reach Fishing Beach – arriving about 2:45 PM

We will arrive at Battery Mills at about 4:15 PM

We will depart Battery Mills at about 5:15 PM

We will arrive at Parking Lot G at about 6:30 PM

We will be walking off road and on the asphalt Multi-Use Path (MUP)

Wear comfortable, temperature appropriate and light colored clothing. (More than likely it will be warm to hot and sunny).

Recommend light weight long sleeve shirt

Recommend sunscreen and a light sun shading hat

Recommend long pants in whatever choice of weight you desire (limited protection against ticks and poisonous plants)

Bug repellent (There are dog ticks and deer ticks in the woods of Fort Hancock)

There may be short distances walked in sand and near beaches

REQUIRED FOR THE TOUR

(you must have the following to participate)

A full water bottle that you can comfortably carry

Hiking boots/shoes – open toed shoes, flip-flops, or sandals are prohibited

Please review the additional NPS safety information at http://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/safety.htm

Hike Document Downloads

1944 Fort Hancock Map

Hike Tour Document

May 1943 “Intel Bulletin” (historic overview)

Post Newspaper, "The Foghorn" (May 6, May 13, May 20) 1943

Time May 10, 1943

Lantern Tour Handout


 

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