12 cadets and 6 CFAV from 2nd Battalion The Highlanders ACF departed Annual Camp 24 and undertook an adventurous training and cultural trip to Bavaria in July 2024. The trip was designed to challenge cadets mentally and physically, develop their nature as inclusive citizens, and educate our young people about military history.
“It was more than I expected, the mountains we explored were breath-taking and I fully recommend doing this if the opportunity arises again.”
Cdt Cpl DM
The first day of activities in Bavaria took cadets to see the incredible Breitachklamm Gorge (Europe’s deepest), up to 20m high amongst the trees on a high ropes course and down a thrilling downhill coaster.
On day 2, cadets had an amazing time scaling the Grünten. At the summit they were greeted with stunning panoramic views of the Allgäu Alps and learnt about the Gebirgsjäger monument, dedicated to German mountain troopers killed in World War One.
The third day involved some recovery, where cadets paid a visit to the Alpsee and the fairy tale Neuschwanstein Castle. It inspired the Disneyworld Castle and also featured in the movies Monuments Men, The Great Escape and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Thankfully, cadets dodged the nightmare-inducing Child Catcher, but not the weather!
A change in pace for day 4, where cadets paid a sobering visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Dachau was one of the first camps built by the Nazis in March 1933. Over 188,000 people would pass through the camp gates, inscribed with the cruelly cynical ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ (which translates to “work sets you free”), before the camp was finally liberated by American troops in April 1945.
For their final Bavarian adventure, cadets bravely walked the natural tightrope that is the Iselergipfel Ridge. The vertigo-inducing route took in the peaks Iseler (1876m) and Kühgundkopf (1907m). On the way down the cadets were serenaded by three men dressed in traditional Lederhosen playing the alpine horn.
“My 100% favourite part was Dachau Concentration Camp and experiencing and learning about the people who had passed there and paying the due respect to them. Also, the stunning views of the Grünten climb, I would’ve never achieved this on my own and it has got to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Cdt Cpl AA
