In September 2010 256 Field hospital (volunteers) deployed a group of seven on an expedition of the Mont Blanc mountain range, a famous long distance trek at altitude. Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe (4807m), the mountain range has 400 summits, more than 40 glaciers, and crosses into three countries (France, Italy and …
1016 – ‘Cockney Grande Randonee’ – Mont Blanc Tour Read More »
On the 2-8th August Bristol University Officers Training Corp was fortunate to send twelve Officer Cadets yacht sailing in the Solent area on the south coast. The weather was excellent and the Solent was full to bursting with crafts of all types hoping to enjoy the festival of Cowes week. Sailing during the week was …
‘Freedom Drift’ – Solent Read More »
The weather and views were stunning, and the long walk provided an excellent opportunity to acclimate ourselves to our ice gear and to practice the principles that would keep us safe while journeying across ice and crevasses for the duration of the trip. The gradual ascent became quite steep as we neared the 3300m col …
1001 – ‘Lung Buster’ – Alps, Haute Route Read More »
Every Leader knows that an expedition never entirely unfolds according to the plan and that the inevitable curved ball or two is to be expected. Co-ordinating two expeditions travelling to France on the same day with a multitude of pick up points collecting eighteen canoeists and ten mountaineers on route to Dover not unsurprisingly did …
997 – ‘Dragon Venturer Ecrin’ – France Read More »
Between August 3rd and August 12th, Sheffield UOTC took 16 intrepid Officer Cadets to Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the midst of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. The purpose of this expedition was to introduce the group to the climbing methods of via ferratta, where one climbs up the side of a mountain using a variety of …
996 – ‘Northern Cutlers Challenge’ – Dolomites, Italy Read More »
An Icelandic proverb: If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute! After a couple of hours’ kip on the floor of Stansted Airport and an uneventful flight to Keflavik, five cadets and three staff from Queen Ethelburga’s College CCF set up their first camp in Reykjavik at the start of a two-week walking expedition. …
994 – ‘Northern Icelandic Venturer’ – Iceland Read More »
Monday 2nd August Crew collected foul weather clothing – oillies and willies, and further safety briefings were conducted. In the afternoon we practiced coming-alongside drills in the marina and set off into the Solent for some sail training, practising man-overboard drills and tacking the boat. Sailed down the Solent to a mooring buoy at Yarmouth …
969 – ‘Dragon Salty Spray’ – UK, France Read More »
Cockney Oceanic was a Sailing Expedition with the ULOTC on a Nicholson 55 that took place in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, France, Bay of Biscay, Spain and Portugal from 27 August to 24 September 2010. Divided into two legs, it saw 22 participants in total; 4 Skippers and 18 crew members sail from Gosport …
967 – ‘Cockney Oceanic’ – UK to Portugal Read More »
On the 6th August 2010 eleven cadets and two staff joined the Ocean Youth Trust (OYT) Scotland challenge vessel ‘Alba Endeavour’ for the start of an exciting adventure which would take them across the North Sea into the Fjords of Norway and back through stormy conditions to Edinburgh. Often the question is asked ‘What are …
957 – ‘Norway Challenge’ – North Sea Read More »
The Expedition started with 4 cadets and 2 staff being driven early in the morning to Gatwick airport en route for Geneva. A delayed flight led to a small panic with trains and buses but eventually the group arrived at the campsite at Bonatchiesse high up in the Val de Bagnes in the Valais region …
1015 – ‘Alps’ – Switzerland, Valais Read More »
Twenty-three personnel from Bristol UOTC took part in Freedom Tiger, following “Le Chemin de La Liberte” or the Freedom Trail, through the Pyrenees. The convoy, consisting of two combivans and a minibus, left Bristol to catch the Portsmouth to Caen ferry, followed by a very long drive to St Girons in the South of France. …
1004 – ‘Freedom Tiger’ – Pyrenees, France Read More »
(TIGER) SHRIVENHAM TAURUS BETHESDA was an 8 day multi-activity expedition to Snowdonia for members of the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS). Adventurous Training is a big part of what DTUS delivers as it provides an ideal vehicle to maintain interest in Service life and to develop leadership and physical attributes. 20 members of DTUS went …
1003 – ‘(Tiger) Shrivenham Bethesda’ – Snowdonia Read More »
Liverpool UOTC’s 2010 annual climbing trip began by setting up camp on the Edelweiss Lodge Wilderness Campground in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Day one brought a beautiful sunrise and glorious sunshine as the group set off climbing at a crag approximately 30 minutes drive away from base camp. The instructors went through all the basics with everyone and …
989 – ‘Northern Mountain Warrior III’ – Bavaria, Tyrol Read More »
4 Officer Cadets from the University of London Officer Training Corps spent 13 days in mid August sailing through the North Sea and Channel as part of a very memorable sail-training expedition. In Leg 4 the Tri-Service Adventure Sail Training Centre (JSASTC) 55′ Yacht, Dasher, took part in the last 3 days of the international …
986 – ‘Tall Ships Leg 4’ – N Sea, Channel Read More »
The chosen activities were Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Trekking, Canyoning, and a High Ropes confidence course. These did indeed produce the qualities we wanted to see from 151 Regiment soldiers. The weekend started early for some after their long drive up to North Wales from the Greater London area, with Minibuses travelling from the various …
985 – ‘Cockney Trident Adventure’ – North Wales Read More »
Newbury Air Cadets walk from Coast to Coast – 192 miles covered in an epic 8 day feat of endurance Cadets from 211 (Newbury) Squadron, Air Training Corps recently took part in an expedition of great stamina and fortitude; walking from St Bee’s Head to Robin Hoods Bay along Wainwright’s Coast to Coast path. Whilst …
979 – ‘UK Coast to Coast’ – East Coast to West Coast Read More »
Cockney Blue Calypso was a Scuba Diving expedition with the ULOTC that took place in Gozo from 11 – 22 July 2010. It consisted of 29 students and 5 instructors. We were divided into two groups for the duration of the expedition; the novices, who would be undertaking the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Ocean Diver …
972 – ‘Cockney Blue Calypso’ – Malta & Gozo Read More »
On the 15th July, after almost a year of fundraising, physical training and equipment buying, I departed Heathrow airport and swapped my life in civilization for 5 weeks in Oscar II Land, at 78 degrees North in Svalbard. The expedition was split up into three phases, the first being a training and preparation week, which …
939 – ‘BSES Arctic Adventure’ – Svalbard (Norway) Read More »
