Expedition Reports

Golden Tarn II 2018

Thames Valley Air Cadets Golden Tarn II Expedition was a culmination of 12 months of planning and training for its 19 participants. The expedition to the Gorge Du Tarn, France carried 2 elements: a challenging and ambitious unsupported and unaccompanied 100km canoeing venture for a group of Air Cadets who were undertaking their Gold Duke

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Northern Dolomite 2018

Ex NORTHERN DOLOMITE was a trekking expedition conducted in the Dolomite mountains of Northern Italy. Amongst glorious Italian scenery, 20 regular and reserve soldiers (16 from 71 Engineer Regiment) covered over 6,000m of ascent (and the reciprocal knee buckling descent) over a 7-day expedition. The temperature and the gradient of some of the climbs proved

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Northern Enduro III

Morzine Mountain Biking Expedition – Report 1 (Pte Qureshi)   After a challenging annual camp in Lydd, 18 officer cadets and staff headed to Morzine for a week of mountain biking in the French alps. This provided a unique opportunity to further test the officer cadets both physically and mentally; needless to say both objectives

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Dragon Lapone 2018

The Kungsleden (King’s Trail) in Northern Sweden is 460km in length and is the best known trail in that country. Over its length it traverses high mountains, open fell, forest and also crosses a number of lakes. It was to the most northerly section, 250km within the Arctic Circle that 3RWELSH Ex DRAGON LAPONE headed

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Tiger Heights 2018

In July 2018, a group of regular and reservist personnel from 77th Brigade travelled to the stunning Dolomites mountain range in Italy for a demanding adventurous training week – Exercise Tiger Heights 2018. The adventure training provided an ideal opportunity to test members of the brigade against the challenging terrain of northeastern Italy whilst, building

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Boar’s Claw 2018

  Day 1 – Napoleonica, Italy (30 minute drive) Vast area situated above and below a disused road. The area chosen was at the far end of the crag, situated slightly above the road. The crag was quiet, well bolted and provided adequate introductory grades for the first day. Student feedback – “Steep terrain: difficult to

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Mercantour 2018

Attending the International Mountain Leader [IML] introduction week with Head Quarters Air Cadets [HQAC] this year was a great experience. We were in France for a total of six days situated in the beautiful Alpes Maritimes, Mercantour National Park near Nice. The party comprised of five Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and two HQ instructors. Each

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Channel Pelican 2018

Exercise Channel Pelican was the Summer Sailing Expedition for Ardingly College Combined Cadet Force (CCF) undertaken between the 5th and 11th of July 2018. The Expedition sailed across the Channel (hence the expedition name) from Southampton visited the Channel Islands and France and then returned to Poole. Exercise Channel Pelican was lead by Tim Sayers,

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Seascape 18

Air cadets at sea! Twelve RAF Air Cadets from Cumbria & Lancashire and Greater Manchester Wings of the Air Training Corps escaped to sea onboard the Ocean Youth Trust (North) ‘James Cook’ a 21-metre steel hulled ketch at the end of June 2018. During their voyage they were to take responsibility for all aspects of

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Viking Shiburnia 2018

Twenty personnel from Sherborne School CCF visited the stunning Hardanger region of Norway for a week of adventure training, culture and education to embrace the Nordic concept of friluftsliv – open-air living. We stayed in the village of Osa at the end of the 170Km long Hardangerfjord. Our guides were inspirational and had built the

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Dragon Safari Sting 2018

In June 2018, the Defence Cultural Specialist Unit (DCSU) conducted their summer adventure training expedition to Lanzarote, where they predominantly conducted the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Ocean Diver and Sports Diver training packages. A hybrid team of 16 regulars and reserves trained 8 novice divers to BSAC Sports Diver standard at Safari Divers in Puerto

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Ice Maiden 2017

Reservist Sophie Montagne, shares her experiences of this ground-breaking expedition across Antarctica, proudly supported by the Ulysses Trust. As we touched down on the blue ice runway of Union Glacier base camp and the Ilyushin plane’s doors opened, we braced ourselves for that first blast of the Antarctic chill. But it wasn’t the cold, it

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Guyana Emu

Earlier this year, ten students from East Midlands UAS participated in an adventurous training expedition within the Guyanese jungle. Primarily, the arduous, challenging nature of the activities and environment aimed to develop determination and qualities of self-reliance, confidence, leadership and team ethos in the UAS students, in order to prepare them for potential service careers

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Cabot Telemark 18

On the 24th March 2018, 12 Officer Cadets and two members of staff from Bristol University Officers Training Corps left for Norway, on a two-week Nordic Skiing Adventurous Training Exercise: Ex CABOT TELEMARK.  The Aim of the exercise was to work towards the Nordic Foundation 1 (NF1) and Nordic Foundation 2 (NF2) Joint Services Qualifications

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HMS Wildfire

HMS WILDFIRE typically runs 2 sailing expeditions (SAILEXs) per year in April and October to fit around the unit’s busy summer training programme. The first of these this year was a long weekend in the Solent from 26 – 29 April. A Halberg Rassey 342, SKUA, was used from Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre

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Dragon Capel 2018

Exercise Dragon Capel was given to the name of 203 Welsh Field Hospital adventurous training phase of the Annual Camp 2018 happening at the end of April 2018 based out of Capel Curig training camp in the heart of the mountains of Snowdonia. The package offered participants a 5-day variety of activities with the main

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Northern Rock 2018

The second term was drawing to an end for the students of the Northumbrian University Officers’ Training Corps (NUOTC), yet excitement and anticipation was high for their week-long climbing trip to the crags and climbing areas around Alicante, Spain. This trip was designed to enable climbers of all abilities to have an opportunity at climbing,

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Finn Tartan Ski 18

On a crisp Friday morning, when most were contemplating their weekend plans, Gunners from across the UK prepared to embark east to the Austrian Alps; plans more exciting than most soldiers from 105 Regt, 101 Regt and 4 Regt RA departed from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland on Ex FINN TARTAN SKI. On assembly at

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Bavarian Explorer 2017

During the Easter break 2017 nine ACF Cadets, supported by 4 Adults all from Bucks ACF completed a week long exploration of the Bavarian Alps. Based out of Garmisch Partenkirchen, Bavaria the expedition aimed to introduce cadets to trekking and enhance their leadership skills by exposing them to challenging routes.  Additionally it aimed to enhance

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Atlantic Rock 2017 (Part of Exercise Diamond Rock)

Inspired by the renowned and record-breaking British Adventurer Mark Beaumont, approximately 200 members from across the RAF Regiment celebrated the Corps’ 75th Anniversary by ‘getting stuck in’ to a series of demanding expeditions that have visited 17 countries, 4 continents, 2 of the world’s greatest mountains and criss-crossed the Atlantic 4 times under the banner

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Acog Rock 2018 (Part of Exercise Diamond Rock)

Inspired by the renowned and record-breaking British Adventurer Mark Beaumont, approximately 200 members from across the RAF Regiment celebrated the Corps’ 75th Anniversary by ‘getting stuck in’ to a series of demanding expeditions that have visited 17 countries, 4 continents, 2 of the world’s greatest mountains and criss-crossed the Atlantic 4 times under the banner

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Biking Rock 2017 (Part of Exercise Diamond Rock)

Inspired by the renowned and record-breaking British Adventurer Mark Beaumont, approximately 200 members from across the RAF Regiment celebrated the Corps’ 75th Anniversary by ‘getting stuck in’ to a series of demanding expeditions that have visited 17 countries, 4 continents, 2 of the world’s greatest mountains and criss-crossed the Atlantic 4 times under the banner

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Cockney Lycian 2018

16 regular and reserve PJHQ personnel from across all three services deployed to Antalya for Ex COCKNEY LYCIAN, a level-3 Summer Mountaineering expedition which took place from 08 to 16 March 2018.  The aim of the expedition was to walk a 75km section of the famous Lycian Way between Mavikent and Kemer.  The ancient route,

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Cadet Snow Finn 18

Our journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina was an experience in itself. We arrived at Kinnegar late Friday evening and traveled through the night, driving to Dublin by coach, before flying via Munich and Vienna and then getting on a final flight to arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Next we made the treacherous journey to reach

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Western Winter 2018

The expedition took place in the Western Highlands of Scotland between 4th and 10th February 2018 with the aim of providing opportunities for staff and cadets of the RAF Air cadets to develop their winter mountaineering experience. The expedition consisted of two groups – one who were focussed on undertaking several quality winter hill days

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Dragon Eldfjall EMU

Ex Dragon Eldfjall 2017 began in the early hours on Thursday 31st of August, as twelve Officer Cadets (OCdts) and two supporting staff of East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps (EMUOTC) were crammed into a van and whisked off to London Luton airport, ready for an early flight to Iceland. The goal of the expedition

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Toubkal Finn 2017

On the evening of 13th October 2017 a cohort of 14 2RIRISH personnel arrived at Belfast International Airport to catch the flight to London.  Where on arrival, we spent the night in a comfortable departure hall at London Gatwick Airport.  During the course of the evening LCpl Cowan had, unknowingly, donated his passport to the

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Telemark Cadet 2017

On the 16th August 2017 nineteen cadets from Oakham School CCF set out on their journey to Norway to undertake their Gold DofE Expedition. After arrival at Oslo Airport they were collected by the advance party and then set course for the Telemark region of southern Norway, some three hours away. After arrival at the

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Trojan Glacier

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

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Bavarian Eagle 2017

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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Delago Tiger 2017

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

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Wesslighthouse 2017

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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Thor’s Azure 2017

Exercise Thor’s Azure saw seven Officer Cadets from DTUS Thunderer Squadron undertake the Tour de Mont Blanc, a 171km mountaineering round trip in the Alps, starting in France and spanning across Italy and Switzerland before finishing back in France. The exercise began with an early start with the team setting out from Southampton in order

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Simba’s Sun

Cumbria ACF is a leading youth training organisation based in the North-West of the England, delivering a programme of challenging military, adventurous and leadership training to young men and women aged from 12 to 17. In May 2017, we took 35 cadets (over 10% of our strength), eight adult volunteers and five Mountain Leaders to

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Congratulations Ice Maidens – First All-Female Team To Cross Antarctica Using Muscle Power Alone

The Ice Maiden Expedition has become the first all-female team to cross the Antarctica continent from coast-to-coast using muscle power alone. The Ulysses Trust is proud to have been a major sponsor for such a challenging and ambitious expedition. After spending 62 days on the ice, the six soldiers crossed the finish line at the Hercules Inlet

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Blue Poseidon 2017

In August 2017 twelve Officer Cadets (OCdts), two instructors and a member of support staff from Oxford University Officer Training Corps (OUOTC) flew to Alberta, Canada for a twelve day open canoeing adventurous training package. The main aim of the expedition was to challenge OCdts, most of which have never open canoed before, by tackling

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Ardeche 17

In the corner of a quiet Essex pub, ‘three nods’ around the table meant we’d just agreed to run Essex Wing’s first ever overseas paddling expedition. A fantastic journey down the Ardèche River had begun … In the months that followed, routes were chosen, letters of intent sent and a staff team built. The nominations

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Mountain Storm 2017

The summer of 2017 saw Royal Air Force Air Cadets from the Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing take on the Canadian Rockies. The self-supported cadet expedition which was the result of two years of planning, fund raising and training was, led by Adult Sgt Edward Smart. It saw 19 cadets & staff from 9 different squadrons fly

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Tiger Alpine Bull 2017

The Upper Valais region in Switzerland, with routes up to 3,000 meters altitude and surrounding the magnificent Groesser Aletsch Glacier, was selected for a summer mountaineering expedition, exercise ALPINE BULL, which took place between 24th and 30th July 2017. Twelve personnel with a mixture of background, qualifications, and experience from 11 Infantry Brigade and headquarters

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Cockney Ice Axe

The aim of the expedition was to introduce Officer Cadets to Alpine mountaineering, including teaching them crevasse rescue techniques and skills for moving on a glacier using ice axe and crampons, and to give them experience of summiting an Alpine peak. There were 11 military participants and one civilian International Federation of Mountain Guides Association

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Echo Adventure 2017

Between 17th-24th November 2017, eighteen volunteer reservists from 212 Field Hospital undertook a rock climbing expedition to the Costa Blanca region of Spain. The aim of this expedition was to challenge the participants mentally and physically, using rock climbing as a medium to do this. The group consisted of greatly varied ranks, ages, and –

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Neptune Serpent 2017

Thanks to the likes of Jacques Cousteau and our own Sir David Attenborough, for the uninitiated, talk of scuba diving may conjure up pictures of kaleidoscope coloured reefs, the inimitable ‘Finding Nemo’ clownfish and a plethora of sharks and weird and wonderful fish.  However, reality and fantasy are rarely synchronised as the members of Exercise

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Summer Tiger 2017

Cadets from Lord Wandsworth College CCF traveled to a small village called Autrans near Grenoble, France, to engage in a week of exciting Adventurous Training activities. The idea behind the expedition was to take part in challenging activities in a setting that is bigger and better than anything the UK has to offer. We were

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Dusty Dalmatian 2017

Summary Exercise Dusty Dalmatian saw 12 students from Cambridge University Air Squadron, one member of staff and one external instructor travel to the Istria region of Croatia to conduct 6 days of single pitch outdoor climbing, followed by one day of indoor lead climbing at Big Rock, Milton Keynes. The group was accommodation in a

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Dragon Cinto 2017

There’s a very good reason for the Foreign Legion having bases on the island of Corsica, it’s rugged, hot, mountainous and a challenge to all who want to operate there!  The island is traversed from Calenzana in the northwest to Conca in the southeast by the GR20, the toughest of all France’s Grand Route long-distance

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Boar’s Claw 2017

Introduction Fourteen officer cadets, four Reserve Forces staff and one Non-Regular Permanent Staff member departed Scotland on the drive to the Bourgogne region of France on a Rock Climbing expedition. This region was chosen due to the climate, variety of rock types and the needs related to delivering the RSF course. This was due to

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Cabot Maori 2017

Overview From the 9th of July to the 16th of July 2017, 20 Officer Cadets from Bristol University Officer Training Corps took part in a week of Sub-Aqua diving in the area of Buggiba, Malta. Their aim was to either gain initial qualifications or further progress in BSAC qualifications, while simultaneously taking advantage of Malta’s

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Sea Wolf 2017

In June 2017, a crew consisting of soldiers from The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry took part in an expedition to sail the Royal Armoured Corps Yacht Club boat, Yacht Ajax, from Gosport to Barmouth in Wales. Named ‘Exercise Sea Wolf’, reflecting the unit’s cap-badge of a grey wolf, the aim of the expedition was

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Pacific Longbow 2017

On the 19th November 2017 two reservists from the University of London Officer Training Corps began a three-week Adventure Training exercise on-board Yacht ‘Discoverer’, one of the Army’s two Challenger 72’ Ocean going sail training yachts. The aim of Ex Pacific Longbow was to challenge participants in a demanding environment and to develop their individual,

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Summer Rock 2017

In August 2017 40 cadets and 12 staff from London Area Sea Cadet adventurous training Team descended onto the town of Newquay in Cornwall for Summer Rock 2017. 5 Days of adventurous training slightly different and more extreme than what the cadets of London area are normally used to.  Thanks to the Ulysses Trust we

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Himalaya Tiger 17

Ex AMA 60 was a Pan Army, Army Mountaineering Association (AMA), High Risk and Remote, mountaineering & trekking expedition to the remote Dolpa region of Western Nepal.  It was open to all AMA members, and the team consisted of both Regulars and Reserves.  It was conceived to celebrate 60 years of the formation of the

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Himalayan Finn 2017

In December 2015, Major J W Swanson and Corporal T McWhirter from the Northern Ireland Garrison Support Unit (NIGSU) began the extensive planning process for their first overseas Adventure Training expedition to Nepal.  The culmination of this planning was Expedition Finn Himalaya, which took place from 15th September 2017 to 7th October 2017. Adventure training

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Tiger Ushguli Bugle 2017

Soldiers from 6 Rifles recently embarked on a mountaineering expedition to Georgia with the goal of increasing the Battalion’s mountaineering capability. While spending five days in the Southern Caucasus the team covered the Summer mountain foundation syllabus, engaged with the local population and hiked over 80km with 2,800m of elevation. The hike began in Mestia

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Canada Summer School Waterborne Training and Survival Skills 2017

In August 2017, 5 members of staff and 14 cadets from Chester le Street Sea Cadets spent 10 days in Nova Scotia, Canada hosted by Llewellyn SCC. The assistance from the Ulysses Trust enabled the cadets and staff to participate in a training programme that included both land and water based activities at HMCS Arcadia,

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Cockney Barbarian 2017

Ex COCKNEY BARBARIAN was a Summer Mountaineering Expedition organised by PJHQ J2 Division to the Supramonte Region of Sardinia. Coming from PJHQ, the group was very diverse, incorporating regulars and reserves from across the tri-service community. As a rare opportunity to conduct Adventurous Training in a busy operational Headquarters, the expedition was heavily oversubscribed, and

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RAF REGIMENT Ex DIAMOND ROCK – 2 LEGS COMPLETE & A LONG WAY DOWN & AROUND TO GO!

Leg 1 summited Denali; not one but 6 of the team made it to the summit (photo 1), an awesome feat in anyone’s book as the mountain is a weather and snow condition challenge at the best of times. Supported by the RAF Charitable Trust, Flt Lt Andy England and his Leg 1 team, part

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