20 members of ULOTC recently took part in Ex Cockney Cragsman 22; OCdts achieved the Summer Mountaineering Foundation qualification by completing training on the Karwendel High Trail in Austria. These Officer Cadets, some of which were new to mountaineering, developed transferrable skills vital to both the Army and wider life such as leadership, problem solving, and teamwork under pressure. This expedition included a cultural and officer development element, where Officer Cadets were able to explore Innsbruck under guidance and experience Austrian culture.
On the first day, the Officer Cadets took the train to Reith and began the ascent. They travelled North along serpentines through a forest and further up into the mountains. The main route was 5.4km with 1155m ascent and 39m descent with the highest point being 2239m. They made their way to Nordlinger Hutte where they stayed for the night. However, first, the team dropped their bags and climbed to the peak of Reiter Spitz (2374m). The weather was in their favour, and they saw some incredible views to make the day noticeably worthwhile.
Day 2 was another relatively short leg of 5.8km, with 419m of ascent (including an unplanned race to the top along a tricky ascent) and 840m of descent. The day ended with a stay at Solsteinhaus.
Day 3 was a long stretch of 11.3km with 1151m ascent and 1058m total descent, with a few tricky ups and downs throughout the rainy day. They ended at Seegrube and took the chairlift down to Innsbruck followed by an unexpected run to catch the train back to the barracks. The day ended with a much-needed night out for pizza.
With a change of pace from the mountaineering stints, Officer Cadets had the opportunity on the Saturday to explore Innsbruck. The group made its way to the Hofkirche or Court Church and stopped at some key sights along the way, where one member of the group explained a little of the history related to each place. Combined with entry to the church itself, this brief tour armed the group with a broad insight into the history of Innsbruck and its significance through time. Following this, the group split down, and Officer Cadets were free to pursue their own interests. A number visited the Imperial Palace and learnt more about the history of the Habsburg family and the Austrian empire, which ruled the region for centuries. Others took the opportunity to visit local shops and sample some local goods, ranging from coffee to ice cream. Later, everyone reconvened so that some kit preparation could take place for the following day’s exploits. The culture day allowed all on the trip to learn something new and experience a place that only a few of them had visited previously. It also gave a chance to repair sore feet and rest before some more strenuous climbs.
The second phase of the expedition started bitterly cold and foggy. The group took a funicular and then two gondolas to get to the top of the mountain where they began traversing across the mountain. Stunning views were hidden behind the fog. Regardless of the weather, they trudged on, spirits high and the hoods of their raincoats glued to their heads. The beginning of the walk was a challenging uphill slope and with a day’s rest since the last phase, the muscle soreness had kicked in and the Officer Cadets’ legs ached as they climbed. It was a long day, leaving at 0700 and only arriving at the first stop (Bettelwurfhütte) after 0900, but the highlight of the day was the scramble climb after lunch, which proved challenging in the wet with cold hands.
The weather the next day improved significantly, with the sunshine returning. The group traced back part of the route from the previous day and then ditched their rucksacks to attempt the summit of Speckkarspitze. It took around an hour and a half to climb and the views from the top were spectacular. Being the shortest day, they arrived at the next hut in plenty of time to relax with a cold beverage.
The final day was by far a favourite, but particularly harsh on the knees as it was downhill most of the way. The sunshine kept the group warm and motivated, and after a quick risk assessment, they stopped for a dip in the most beautiful (but freezing) of spots. They continued the walk down the hill and took in the last moments of the exercise. Although the exped had its challenges, we all felt highly accomplished as many of us improved significantly on our skills with the hopes of returning in future.
After finishing the second and final leg of the trail, the group came back down to the barracks to turn their kit around and get some rest before travelling back to the UK. They went into Innsbruck to take in any cultural experiences that they hadn’t had time for on the first culture day, as well as enjoying the sights from local restaurants and coffee shops.
Cockney Cragsman 22 has been a challenging but rewarding experience. The team has overcome obstacles both physical and mental, while learning so much about themselves, others and how to be a functioning member of a mountaineering expedition.
OCdt Katie Burr, a second-year medical student, stated: “On a personal level, I have learnt to have faith in my ability to face new activities and to overcome fears. This it has inspired me to take on more different activities and to keep going and persevere even when they get difficult.”
Without the financial support of the Ulysses Trust, the group would not have so many opportunities afforded to them. Therefore, the Officer Cadets would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the Trust whose support has added much value to our experiences.
We hope that future unit expeditions will have the continued support of the Trust so that even more Officer Cadets will be able to be developed through the challenges of Adventurous Training. We find such training important as it exposes participants to managed risk, normalising decision-making under pressure, and increasing our performance in such situations.
