Ex Mountain Wave was a week-long adventure training expedition in the Scottish Highlands,
based out of Dundonnell, giving Officer Cadets from Southwest Officer Training Regiment
(SWOTR) the opportunity to begin their journey towards becoming Mountain Leaders. Selection
for the Mountain Leader Training course required a prerequisite of 20 Quality Mountain Days
logged beforehand, and we were fortunate enough to be among the Officer Cadets selected to
take part.
The first part of the week focused on refreshing our navigation skills and developing
movement on steep ground. We walked 10 km along the coastline of the Rubha Mòr peninsula,
with each of us taking turns to lead a secret navigation leg while the rest of the group had to
identify our location on the map using the land features around us.
Following our initial navigation practice, we headed to An Groban (383 m), where we developed
techniques for moving safely on steep ground. We first learnt how to manage and safeguard a
group before taking turns leading sections of the route and selecting our own routes. We also
learnt how to choose an appropriate rope anchor and use a rope to provide support whilst
moving across steep terrain.
The following day, we put those skills to the test by traversing the ridge on An Teallach, one of
the highlights of the trip. Each candidate took turns leading the group, navigating and managing
the team as we ascended to the Corrag Bhuidhe ridge. It was a genuine challenge, moving
carefully across narrow sections while using the rope skills we had learnt the previous day to
safeguard the group. We bagged our first Munro of the week, Sgurr Fiona (1,059 m), before
continuing to the summit of Bidein a’ Ghlas Thuill (1,062 m). Although the mist limited our views,
it did little to diminish what was a phenomenal day in the mountains.
On our fourth day we headed to Quinag, where we summited two Corbetts. We first climbed
Spidean Coinich (764 m), followed by Sail Gharbh (808 m). Once again, poor visibility gave us
the opportunity to further test our navigation skills. We took shelter from the wind in a group
shelter before learning how to assist others on steep descents using confidence roping,
practising the techniques on one another.
The penultimate part of the course was a wild camp and two-day expedition, and the weather
ensured we put everything we had learnt to the test. We summited the Munros of Eididh nan
Clach Geala (927 m) and Meall nan Ceapraichean (977 m), covering around 30km across the
two days over steep ground and carrying all our overnight gear.
The combination of poor visibility, persistent rain and long days made the expedition as much a
mental challenge as a physical one, demanding constant concentration and resilience. The
biggest challenge came after dinner, when we had to pull our soggy waterproofs back on, leave
the warmth of our tents and head back out into the darkness for an evening navigation exercise.
Once again, we used secret navigation legs to test each member of the group, eventually
summiting Beinn Dearg North Top (884 m). The highlight of the day was finally climbing into our
sleeping bags after the night navigation. Thankfully, we had all managed to keep them dry. On
the 2nd morning whilst walking down to our van we also learnt and practised river crossing
techniques, an invaluable Mountain Leader skill made particularly relevant by the wet conditions we experienced throughout the expedition.
On our last evening, we ate in a local pub in Dundonnell, where a local folk band was playing.
What started as us joining in for a song turned into a few hours of singing along – it clearly made
the band’s week as much as ours, and it was a brilliant way to close out the course before the
long 15-hour drive back to Bristol and Exeter. It was a fantastic week, and we came away
having learnt so many new skills in a demanding environment. Every one of us left feeling better
prepared for the Mountain Leader assessment ahead and with a clear understanding of the
areas we still needed to develop. Beyond the technical skills, the trip strengthened team building and unit cohesion between Bristol and Exeter Officer Cadets, with shared experiences such as the river crossings and the evening in the pub creating lasting memories.
It was simply an amazing week of learning, made possible thanks to our great instructor, Huw
Gilbert, the SWOTR UATO and the Ulysses Trust. The Trust’s grant funding made the course
accessible to Officer Cadets by significantly reducing the financial burden of undertaking
Mountain Leader Training. Without this support, the cost of the scheme would have been
prohibitive for many of us as students, and it is unlikely that we would have been able to pursue
this opportunity at this stage. Their funding enabled Officer Cadets from SWOTR to develop
invaluable mountain leadership, navigation and teamwork skills, and to begin our journey
towards becoming Mountain Leaders.
“This week gave me the opportunity to learn and absorb so much about leading in the
mountains.” – Oliver
“The training course refreshed my navigation skills and left me feeling prepared for my mountain
leader assessment.” – Lara
“Ex Mountain Wave was an amazing experience, one of which enabled lifelong lessons to be
learnt. It is the work of The Ulysses Trust that makes expeditions like this possible for us
university students, which is why I am so grateful for them.” – Harry
“I would like to thank the Ulysses Trust for their continued support on SWOTR expeditions.
Without their grants to cover costs many of us would not be able to afford to take part in
Adventurous Training, this is especially true for the otherwise expensive Mountain Leader
Training course. I look forward to continuing to improve and gain experience. I’m excited to take
my Mountain Leader Assessment so I can lead others into the mountains.” – Zach
“The funding from the Ulysses Trust gave me the opportunity to complete my Mountain Leader
training, learning how to teach and guide others to explore the mountains safely.” – Emil
