From the 09-23 AUG 24, 12 Officer Cadets (OCdts), accompanied by 2 staff members from Birmingham University Officers Training Corps, prepared themselves to embark on a two-week canoeing expedition on the Harkan river system, Sweden. They planned to canoe 120km from Valsjöbyn to Lit where they’d be wild camping each night and complete their O2F qualification – (Open Canoe 2 Star Foundation). An advance party consisting of 5 group members travelled from London Heathrow to Östersund to prepare the camp for the main body’s arrival the next day by setting up camp and buying food for the following days of training.
Training for Expedition: On the first two days in Sweden, OCdts were given an overview of all the equipment they would be using over the coming week. This included being shown a variety of different paddles and their individual benefits as well as testing safety equipment such as buoyancy aids, helmets and throwlines. The OCdts were also taught a range of paddling techniques including the Pry, Draw Stroke and the Skull and Draw in order to move their canoes sideways while working in tandem with another person. To practice these techniques OCdts played games such as ‘world domination’ where they had to manoeuvre their canoes in order to capture other boats resulting in many capsized canoes. This nicely led onto an afternoon of rescue drills.
The next day, individuals built on their previous learning by attempting solo canoeing which allowed them to improve their techniques when performing J strokes, the power Pry and Sweep turns. Their learning was further tested by doing relays in groups of three with the losing team having to paddle to shore and run to the opposite lake and back before the next race. That afternoon, OCdts were taught effective packing methods in preparation for starting the expedition the next morning. They were restricted to a total of two barrels each which would contain all the equipment necessary for wild camping including rations, sleeping systems and dry clothing.
Day 1: Our first day canoeing was a challenge with us getting to grips with working together on the open water on our first lake in Valsjöbyn whilst battling strong headwinds. We travelled around 10km to reach our first campsite of the expedition, along the way getting an introduction to our first grade 1 rapids. For the first night we were still on fresh food so designated OCdts had a chaotic cooking session to make enough food with limited equipment and in the process providing that evening’s entertainment. Other OCdts ventured off to start a campfire which turned into the beacon for afternoon conversations and attempts to dry wet clothing. Some also stayed up to get a glimpse of the northern lights passing over the campsite that night, albeit not as grand as the previous night but still a beautiful site.
Day 2 and 3: By the second day OCdts were already in a 7:30am morning routine, packing up kit, having breakfast and loading the canoes ready for the next voyage across the lakes of Sweden by 9am. We travelled another 20km halfway across Hotagen Lake to reach the next campsite. Part of that day consisted of a 1.5km portage with the canoes and kit. The weight made them heavy to transport but encouraged the group to work as a team to get them out of the water and up rocky banks to the road. At the second camp of the trip, OCdts really began to switch off from their devices and immersed themselves in the camping lifestyle. This included finding a suitable place to pitch tents on uneven ground, gathering firewood, bathing in the cold lake and roasting marshmallows by the fire. They were also faced with their first rainy morning making it harder to organise kit to maintain its dryness and it was also the start of our first day on rations after 3 days of fresh food. Day 3 also brought a change in canoe partners to encourage engagement with other group members they wouldn’t usually talk to. After travelling another 22km, passing the time by singing songs, we set up camp next to a large dam with the group facing the challenges of an infestation of ants and finding good trees to make a fire. The group entertained themselves with games they brought such as cards, Irish Snap and the rugby ball.
Day 4 and 5: Today was the most chaotic of the trip. The group on their next 20km portage faced Grade 2 technical rapids ending with 3 boats capsizing along the way and leaving the canoes with multiple battle scars.
“All I was thinking going over the rapids was Aggression! Aggression! Aggression! like we were told, don’t be a passenger so I paddled hard.”
Officer Cadet KM
Once we got to the next camp which resided near a smaller dam, we got to watch two more experienced OCdts attempt to harness their skills in the ripples of the water exiting the dam. This resulted in a moment where one of the Officers attempted to show them a movement and ended up capsizing himself, a perfect demonstration of what not to do. After this, about an hour’s walk from camp, we headed off into the local town where we had access to a supermarket and a pizza shop where we engaged with some of the locals in a game of pool. Back at the campsite we shared with another group of campers, one of which had a drone that took brilliant arial photos of our party canoeing away the next morning. At this point we had finished with the lakes, making it to the river portion of the trip. In order to preserve our canoes further we conducted another walking portage alongside the river to avoid a set of grade 2/3 rapids. Arguably the camp we resided in that afternoon was the best of the trip. OCdts had fun playing in the river, entering upstream and letting the current carry us down the river and repeat. There was also a little hut within which we found a diary with previous campers’ trips recorded, so we continued the history by leaving our own message within its pages.
Day 6 and 7: Nearing the end of the trip, we enjoyed the camping so much we decided to do it for one more night. To do so we had a relaxing coast down the rivers and through canyons including one final 1km walk with the canoes around a small dam where we stopped for lunch and admired the breath-taking scenery of Sweden. At our final campsite some members of the group conducted their own highland games each attempting the caber toss with logs we planned to chop into firewood. On our final 5km back to the camp OCdts constructed a mega-boat by holding multiple canoes together at once. It was both a joyous and melancholy point to recognise the section of river in which we conducted our earlier training, signalling our return to Lit Campsite around lunchtime on the 20th August.
“I’ll be honest, I was disappointed it was coming to an end. I’ve never done anything like this before and liked stepping out of my comfort zone. The Canoeing was actually hard work which in the end I found to be very rewarding.”
Officer Cadet EH
After Expedition: To conclude the expedition, OCdts conducted a recap of their canoeing techniques to obtain additional Paddle UK qualifications such as the Paddle Explore and Multi Day Touring Award. This included the edition of practicing the prevention of potential capsizes where OCdts attempted to tip each other into the water. This led to a battle on the lake’s jetty where everyone attempted to push each other off into the water in an OCdt battle royale, a sensational ending to an amazing expedition. That night we also had the opportunity to use the large wood fired sauna so spent the night alternating between this and the lake.
The donation made by Ulysses Trust was an essential component of making this trip possible and affordable. Many OCdts who took part are now enthusiastic about advancing their training further through additional Adventure Training endeavours, with 2 already applying for further Army courses. This experience was a great opportunity for OCdts of different year groups to bond and strengthen their relationships which will be essential in the next training year.
