Having left the cold, harsh conditions of our Annual Camp in Northern Ireland, officer cadets from Cambridge University Officers` Training Corp (CUOTC) prepared for the adventure of a lifetime in Chamonix colloquially known as “Chams” across the unit. This is one of the key Adventurous Training (AT) Expeditions the unit holds for which a tremendous amount of gratitude and appreciation goes out to the Ulysses Trust for making this possible. For without the funding from the trust, none of this trip would have been possible.
In the morning of the 14th of June, Officer Cadets hastily squared away their equipment that would be used for their time abroad. This included, tents, sleeping bags, clothing for warm and wet weather and of course sunglasses to preserve our eyes for the most scenic of views. Upon preparing kit, excitement could not be contained as senior cadets relived their past experiences with the expedition a year ago whilst junior cadets could only sit back and imagine the immense amount of fun they were going to endure. So the cadets were up by early in the morning to hit the road and await a long but worthwhile journey to Dover.
As the sun broke and the birds began to chirp, we finally arrived at the beautiful white cliffs of Dover. Having passed through passport control, officer cadets took the liberty to indulge in a much-needed rest or to witness the beauty of setting sail to Calais for which many new phone lockscreens were made. Despite the time it took to get from the south coast of England to the north coast of France many decided it would be a good time to pamper themselves in a selection of French and English style food, which many enjoyed saying the least. This would then set the tone for a remarkable expedition.
Upon making it to the mainland, the remarkable team of drivers, transported the Officer Cadets to services stations, the first one being McDonalds, allowing Officer Cadets a taste of home. This paired with the blazing heat of France was a great opportunity for Officer Cadets to play games on the way and work on their tan from the comfort of their seats. Finally, after a day of service stations and beautiful French scenery the real beauty was driving through that of the alps which we would be staying in. The blue and white mountains paired with the moisture in the air was a mesmerising experience that words cannot describe.
After an hour of driving though these views CUOTC was met with a monstrous rain cloud engulfing all that met it with an ocean of fresh breeze, moisture and lightning. This set the scene for what would be classed as an eventful night. Once we arrived at the campsite, it rained all night long leading to many dadets opting to sleep within combi vans and shelters instead of setting up tents which proved to be an amazing judgment call. This did not pose any issue as when the sun rose in the morning, the most beautiful view was in store for all campers of the Mer de Glace.
Upon waking, a party was sent to provide breakfast which increased morale as the smell of fresh pastries took over the air. Once the breakfast party had arrived, food was eaten and a plan for the day was made. This plan encompasses cadets doing the following activities; Mountain biking, Mountain trekking, Climbing & Via Ferrata. This allowed for the cadets to try a range of different adventurous training opportunities so that, should they enjoy the activity, they can potentially work towards a qualification within their chosen activity.
Mountain biking: This had cadets exploring the local villages of Chamonix whilst working on their individual skills and drills on a mountain bicycle. This experience involved cadets learning how to jump over obstacles and utilize the gears of a bike when ascending or descending hills.
Mountain trekking: The cadets learning how to navigate and lead a group of people through tough alpine environments which proved a challenge, but all was overcome. Officer cadets went to numerous caffes when descending mountains for quick treats but also had the chance to take some Oscar winning photos.
Climbing: This took place at various climbing sites across Chamonix and involved cadets improving their ability to use and handle their climbing equipment as a pair or a three when climbing. Cadets had the opportunity to further their experience by choosing various difficulties across the days which proved a good challenge for many.
Via Ferrata: This, meaning the iron path, is a route with fixed protection that aids climbers in moving safely through the mountains. It was traditionally used by armies in the second world war to transport vast quantities of kit when going up mountains, opposed to traditional methods of climbing. This was quite the treat for many officer cadets as it had them climbing not only cliff faces but across waterfalls which always turned out to be a blast. Figuratively and literally.
Camp life: The exercise conducted in Chamonix allow officer cadets to not only experience what it was like to do the activities but to see how they were planned. The exercise also had all officer cadets organise breakfast, lunch and dinner for those on the trip. This would involve a shop for breakfast and lunch the day before and a trip to a bakery in the morning. The lunches were fresh baguettes with whatever items you’d like on the inside ranging from soft cheese to spicy chorizo. After the group’s activitiy, they would venture into the city to purchase whatever food they wanted to cook for the group. This ranged from dishes like carbonara to the famous CUOTC mess (Eton mess made by our Officer cadets)
Personal experiences:
Officer cadets have had numerous amounts of positive things to say about their time abroad on Chamonix 2024. Here is a collection of personal experiences from Officer cadets & Instructors.
“Chamonix was a fantastic opportunity filled with new experiences. It was my first-time completing a via ferrata and climbing outdoors; I learnt a lot of different skills about my own potential against adversity. After day 3 of adventure training, I found it challenging to preserve thorough physical exhaustion, but I felt encouraged to show resilience and endurance by the example of my peers. I would recommend CUTOC AT and especially Chamonix to anyone seeking adventure or self-improvement.”
Officer Cadet W
“I was fortunate enough to be invited to support the 2024 CUOTC Exped to Chamonix, an area that I know well. I mainly spent my time introducing Officer cadets to via ferrata with a big exposed one above Flegere and a far newer one crisscrossing the waterfalls at Le Bouet. I was also lucky enough to take a student on a multipitch climb as part of his instructor development. I have always been keen on the mountains and in recent years have been able to formalise my experience into joint service AT quals such as AKL and RML. I always enjoy working with Officer Cadets whose enthusiasm is often contagious. The most rewarding part is not the completion of individual routes but watching them grow in confidence an ability into competent and strong young people ready to face the rigours of a future army career.”
Major W
“My role on the expedition was a Mountain Leader training instructor. On my MLT course in Scotland in December, I pushed to get outside my comfort zone which led to me take on more challenges. Leading to my first Expedition mountain leading in Northern Ireland and then Chamonix. I found it a great immersive experience which pushed me but allowed me to do more with a great support network from the ML`s Major B and Major W giving me detailed guidance on routes. In terms of what I found challenging, I would say it was adapting the routes to groups when I hadn’t specifically done the before and managing groups while doing that. A great learning experience where I was pushed and challenged. Having experienced all of this, my only thing I’d say is that I wish I had gone on these courses sooner to chance that personal development! I’d absolutely recommend this trip and for those wishing to further they CV, get on leadership courses to build yourself in ways you never though you could have.”
Junior Under Officer B
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to visit such a breathtaking location, an experience I might never have had otherwise. The stunning beauty of the alps, combined with the joy of socialising with a wonderful group of friends, makes me feel incredibly privileged. Additionally, the physical challenges have pushed me beyond my comfort zone, for which I am deeply grateful.”
Officer Cadet W
“Chamonix 2024 was the most amazing Trip! Doing via ferrata over a raging waterfall with the fine freshwater spray softly coating my sunglasses, I had to read for fortitude I did not know I had – especially when crossing a single narrow beam, or trying to descend metal staples, that were miniscule, and shrank further when compared to the furious torrent beneath them. such fears and resilience were reinforced b mountain biking, not helped y the French inversion of the brakes that necessitated careful thought lest you end up over the handlebars after grabbing a handful of rear brake. The extreme heat and tree root ridden fire tracks made cycling difficult and, though the physical burden was eased by the occasional affogato, the need to support the group and challenge myself over difficult obstacles, as well finding the mental bandwidth to look up and appreciate the majesty of the nature I was surround by, certainly developed leadership, physical courage, and mental endurance”
“Trying a crepe, snails, and raclette after a day at La Piscine was a joy, and whilst Anglo franco relationships were fostered via sampling grape based French fermented products, the immersion into French culture (omnipresent even in the tourist hotspot of Chamonix) was a welcome one. I could not recommend the trip more highly. Not only was it fun, challenging, and enriching, but the lasting friendships made, and passion ignited for adventurous activities is not something that will leave me. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip, and would urge anyone contemplating visiting Chamonix or doing something similar to go for it.”
Junior Under Officer P
“During Chamonix Blue, I participated in exciting activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and via ferrata. I also took on responsibility like organizing food for the group. The trip was an exciting and challenging experience that fostered teamwork and friendship. I Discovered new strengths and capabilities within myself. I would absolutely recommend this experience to others”
“With this being my third Overseas Expedition with CUOTC, I have been able to learn and observe the planning and organisation which goes into these amazing opportunities. This has enabled me to become more involved each year as well as seeing and supporting my peers in taking on new responsibilities after they have gained AT instructor qualification. It has been great to see peoples’ journeys form trying something new on their first AT Expedition, to now being an instructor, leading other Officer Cadets, which was the goal created on my first Expedition in 2022. I hope every Officer Cadet makes the most of these opportunities.”
Junior Under Officer B
“As one of the Combi drivers, I was tasked with co-driving one of our combi vans to and from Chamonix, as well as doing some driving locally. I had never driven in France, but despite my initial nerves I found it very simple and enjoyable – even with the interesting habits of French drivers! This was my second year of going to Chamonix with CUOTC, and I found it even better that the first visit. It is an excellent AT opportunity which I am very fortunate to get to participate in, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to join the unit.”
Officer Cadet W
Journey back form Chamonix: On the final day, Officer Cadets treated themselves to their final smell of warm pastries in the morning before putting down their tents to be packed away onto combi vans to leave the Mer de Glace campsite. As before, cadets had a long road trip to the port for which much appreciation and thanks went out to the drivers for completing this with limited hours for rest. Upon leaving the ferry, cadets departed from Dover on a long drive back to Cambridge. This drive would take two hours before officer cadets, unpacked their kit and went on their merry way either home or to stay a night at the Cambridge Army Reserve Centre.
Impacts of the trip:
The impacts of the trip can be summed up in the following four heading: Comfort zone, Adventure, Physical activity & Leadership.
One of the key impacts from his trip was taking officer cadets out of their comfort zone. In this day and age, it is very easy to go on holidays and have a good time but not a lot of them offer the chance for you to do this and really test your mettle by climbing several feet high on the face of a mountain via metal poles.
Another key impact from this trip was the chance to venture into the wild and go for an adventure. Exploring a foreign country is one of life’s greatest wonders and with opportunities like this, people get to tick of their bucket list and adds more flavour to their lives which is always a positive.
Yet another impact of this trip is physical activity on a day-to-day basis. Not many get to say they went on holiday and got regular exercise but for officer cadets from CUOTC, this was the life for an extended period. As many will say, a physically fit body keeps a mentally fit individual.
Most importantly, Officer cadets that came on abord to Chamonix, have had the chance to utilize and work on their leadership potential having accumulated it across the year. For many, they were given leadership positions from map reading and leading a group across the alps to simply motivating people when climbing rock faces or via ferrata. This has been very beneficial to the CUOTC for developing its future leaders.
The whole of CUOTC, would love to personally say a big thank you to the Ulysses Trust. This trip and previous trips from years gone by have been an amazing for the development of young individuals and should remember these for the rest of their lives. Without the financial support from the trust, none of this would be possible and for that our hearts and much felt appreciated go out to the trust.
