From 8th to 17th August 2023, the North West Officer Training Regiment (NWOTR) embarked on Ex Northern Alpine, a klettersteig (Via-Ferrata) expedition in Bavaria. The Bavarian landscape, with its rugged terrain and spectacular vistas, set the stage for a new experience that blended physical challenges with personal growth for us.
For many of us, it was our first time with this activity, clinging to iron rungs on rock faces, navigating exposed ledges and wire bridges. However, as each day passed, the initial trepidation gradually transformed into a feeling of empowerment. Each foothold and iron rung became a testament to our determination and the constant guidance of skilled instructors. The adventure was not solely about conquering the cliffs but also about conquering self-doubt.
Day 1 saw the last of a low-pressure system bringing wet weather across the whole region, so all of the groups opted for an indoor climbing day, getting used to using the climbing harnesses and warming up our movement skills in the bouldering wall. The following day saw bright blue skies and so, the Ostrachtaler route in Oberjoch was our first taste of klettersteiging, the activity we had come to do. This was really a gentle introduction at grade B/C and only a half hour climb, but when we first saw the crag everyone was quite surprised at how high we were going to climb (actually only 100m) and reality bit, as the saying goes. As the day turned out everyone took this in their stride, but the principle of a gentler learning curve was the right choice.
Collaboration and teamwork emerged as a key theme during this expedition. Fellow participants became companions, offering encouragement through difficult sections and celebrating each ascent. Bonds formed in the face of adversity highlighted the importance of unity in achieving common goals and breaking boundaries that would have been daunting individually.
These themes really came into focus as the expedition took a big step up on our second klettersteig route, the Eldrid route again at Oberjoch. This time the route was again graded B/C but the height gained was 300m with an overall time of 3.5 hours predicted in the guidebook. It also provided our first chair lift to get to the start of the route and then descend at the end of the day. While using a lift seems a little like cheating to those of us used to the British mountains, it does allow more time climbing and we all agreed that the phrase ‘when in Rome’ applies here. The route actually took us much longer than the guidebook said, at nearer 5.5 hours due to the route being crowded in the German holiday season and because we took a longer route down to take in more of the scenery. Another new discovery today was our first alpine cross, typically a white metal crucifix on the top of a prominent mountain, so we had a team photo to celebrate our ascent.
Beyond the thrills, this expedition showcased the importance of embracing the unknown. Navigating exposed ledges and scaling rock faces demanded focus on the present moment, fostering mental resilience and adaptability. Being able to put trust in amazing kit provided and believing in ourselves were crucial to our relentless efforts to attempt more difficult routes and get the best experience we could.
Our third klettersteig route delivered these challenges in abundance. Today was the Tegelberg route next to the famous castle featured in the famous film ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. The grade edged up to a C and the climb increased to 350 metres with a total ascent of 800m. Just like yesterday the route was very busy and when we walked to the start of the route a queue of around 50 people and half an hour had formed. The reason for the queue became obvious when we saw a 10m ladder followed by a traversing section (highly polished, as we would find) that some people were getting a look at and then coming back down the ladder. Fortunately, all of our group made it across the polished section which was probably the most difficult section of the route. What did cause us a problem today, however, was the cumulative effort of the climb as some group members grew weary as the climb seemed to go on forever. We tried to move as quickly as possible so as not to hold up the people behind, or to let them past wherever possible, but this really felt like a much bigger undertaking than the preceding days. Again, our timing was much slower than the guidebook said and this was partly down to queueing and to the relentless sun on such a hot day. Due to the arduousness of this climb the group discussed the following day and decided to spend the next day single pitch climbing. We learnt to lead climb outdoors here which is a great achievement so early in climbing for some people. This gave our legs and biceps a day to recover but was a real workout for our grippy finger muscles and also for our brains when concentrating on the lead climbs. The following day was back to klettersteig, this time on another grade C and 400m climb, right next to a thundering waterfall on the Stuibenfall route. This even included a wire bridge right over the top of the waterfall with it tumbling down the gulley beneath. Everyone cruised the route today and we all really felt we could do anything.
In retrospect, this adventure served as a vivid reminder that growth flourishes outside one’s comfort zone. The memories of working with my team and the triumphant feeling of reaching the summit will continue to inspire me as I continue my path with adventurous training. Bavaria not only provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for an adventure but also imparted enduring lessons about fear management, trust-building, and the rewards of embracing life’s uncertainties.
The final klettersteig of the exped was the Leite klettersteig at Nasserieth. It was only 260m of climbing with 20mins walk in and 40m out, but we were stepping up our grade again to C/D. This proved to be a klettersteig too far as the combined toll of the exped meant that not everyone was able to climb some of the middle sections, without the support of the instructor’s confidence rope, and the hardest moves were yet to come. The decision was taken to retreat down a short section and onto an escape route that we had seen on the way up. Descending was harder than going up so it was good that we had the instructor’s rope as support at this point. We learnt that not every expedition gets to its summit but perhaps there is just as much learning in making that difficult decision to change the plan. Again, everyone was worn out so the following day we switched back to single pitch climbing and ended the training phase with a more technical and less arduous day.
Without a doubt, this experience would not have been possible without the support of The Ulysses Trust. The support provided us with the opportunity to engage in a unique opportunity, enriching my perspective and fostering personal growth. Your support not only enable me to explore new horizons but also reinforced the importance of investing in experiences that broaden our horizons. The new connections made, challenges faced, and memories formed will remain as a massive highlight in my OTC career. So once again, I am truly grateful for your support and all the work the trust has done to provide similar experiences for others.
OCdt Alyssa Saw
Manchester and Salford UOTC
North West Officer Training Regiment
