Exercise TROJAN GLACIER was a two-week-long alpine mountaineering exercise to Switzerland, conducted by Officer Cadets from Trojan Squadron of the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme. It aimed to introduce personnel already competent and qualified in basic level mountaineering and climbing skills to the high Alpine peak, pushing them to learn further technical skills and develop a […]
Bellingstua to Verestua. 13 km 3 1/2hrs. Some days in the winter mountains are elusive when we try to capture them with words. No phrase or description does them justice… today was such a day. In the quiet morning light, casting long shadows across the glittering snow I leave the cabin. I have a short
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Meråker to Bellingstua. 53km 11 1/2hrs. Last night I checked the weather. Two good days, then significant snow forecast. So I made the decision to make the long leap to Bellingstua, effectively linking what I’d planned as two days. The groomed tracks around Meråker enabled this, giving me pressed classic tracks all the way out
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Schultzhytta to Meråker. 31km 6hrs. This weekend I’ve had my first human company during the day. My friend Håkon who lives in Trondheim and has helped me position 3 vital resupply packages in the mountains around Trondheim. With the weather forecast to be stunning he asked to join me for the weekend-how could I refuse!
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Nordpå Fjellhotel to Schulzhytta. 43km 9 1/2hrs. After a perfect nights sleep in a luxurious cabin, my friend Håkon from Trondheim met me for breakfast with the plan to join me skiing for the day. It’s my first day of human company and what a stunning day! Håkon tells me he doesn’t do bad weather
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Skordalen to Nordpå Fjellhotel. 30km, 6 1/2hrs. Today I reached the first of three resupply parcels in the mountains around Trondheim. Which is a big boost to spirits because this last section took 3 days more than I originally planned. (I didn’t know the area and my original plan of 5 days Lemonsjø to Nordpå
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As Europe returned to work after the summer holidays, officers from National Reserve Headquarters Royal Artillery (NRHQ RA) headed south on Exercise BAVARIAN EAGLE. We were bound for Haus Magnus in Wertach, which incidentally, is a comfortable, well run Adventurous Training Group (ATG) lodge ideally placed for mountain hiking in the Allgäu region. Eleven of
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Day one saw an early start to our expedition as we met the coach just outside the centre of Rotherham for our journey down to the Isle of Wight. We had the one stop on the way down to Portsmouth, as cadets just love burgers, and arrived at the port with a couple of hours
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As part of its role Exeter UOTC is tasked with organising high quality and demanding Adventurous Training (AT) for the Cadets. This should deliver foundation qualifications but also give the Cadets exposure to just how demanding AT can be and how it can be used to develop personal qualities and teamwork. The Dolomite mountains of
Rørøs to Skordalen. 30km 5 1/2hrs. Today had potential to be dull and difficult. Strong winds from the south, overcast, and my next fixed destination, Nordpå, too far to reasonably or rationally do in a day. So I opted to split the journey and hope tomorrow will be a short day. How fortunate to find
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Staffordshire and West Midlands (NS) Army Cadet Force deployed a 24 strong expedition to Alberta, Canada to conduct Mountain Biking, White Water Kayaking, Mountaineering and Caving. “Opportunity of a lifetime” Cdt Brandon Connon, Old Hill Detachment “The best thing I have every done” L/Cpl Sol Flaherty, Leek Detachment “stunning scenery” Sgt Phoneix Everill, Uttoxeter Detachment
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A kayaking trip in Scotland? To many this would conjure up thoughts of being cold and wet however to the group of 10 Officer Cadets, many only just back from a kayaking expedition in France this was a chance to further develop and hone their skills on what promised to be a more technically challenging
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The Rolex Fastnet Race 2017 was the largest offshore yacht race in history, featuring some 400 yachts and 3000 crew members from 29 countries, competing over a 1120km course from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock off the Southern Irish coast. Thanks largely to the Ulysses Trust’s generous sponsorship of three members of the
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As 06.00am approached, the 30 cadets and 9 adults of Glasgow & Lanarkshire Battalion had been up and about for ages excited about what lay ahead. Some had skied before whilst others were complete novices. No matter what, there was not a thing that could have dampened their excitement for the ski trip to Serre
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Operation Drakensberg Elephant was a 22-day expedition to the Drakensberg Mountains and surrounding area in the country of South Africa. The expedition encompassed 27 air cadets and 6 staff from across Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing with the primary objective of providing an overseas expedition focused on 3 weeks of Adventure Training, cultural education and engagement
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Vingelen to Rørøs. 47km 9 1/2hrs. Wow… what an amazing day. I love skiing. I love Norway. I love skiing across Norway. I love snow. I love winter landscapes. I love feeling strong enough to ski forever. 😊 There was a lot to love about today… maybe even my best day yet-and I’ve had a
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Two British Army Reservists from the hugely successful ICE MAIDEN expedition will be joining fellow Antarctic crossers from the award-winning SPEAR 17 expedition at the Ulysses Trusts’ 25th Anniversary Reception at Lancaster House on Thursday 15th February 2018. Ice maidens Major Sandy Henne and LSgt Sophie Montagne are two of the team of six British
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Lomåsen to Vingelen. 20km, 4 1/2hrs. I expected to wake tired and sore… but I felt fine, but very hungry. I was seriously considering a rest day because Eystein’s house in Lomåsen would be perfect for that… but I’m running out of supplies… The thought of the supermarket in the quiet rural village of Vingelen
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