Expedition Reports

This year, the Regimental skiing trip was a little unusual. Normally we head south, and ski downhill, in Austria. However we decided to head north and ski up-hill in Scotland. After an early start and a long drive, with rising excitement as we started spotting patches of snow on the mountains either side, we arrived […]

Legend has it that the ashes of St James the apostle lie in the magnificent cathedral in the heart of Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain. After Jesus’ crucifixion the eleven (Judas hanged himself) left Jerusalem to spread the gospel. James sailed to modern day Spain and preached to pagan Galicians in the North

Phoenix Cockney Slide was a Distributed Training (DT) Level 3 overseas exercise for beginners to advanced skiers, taking place over the period 1st – 9th April 2011. It was based in Tignes, South France. The intent was to take seven inexperienced skiers (Officers and soldiers), and provide them with the instruction in order to gain

High winds, high plateaus, high water and high adventure are the nature of Northern Jacobite Venturer (Ex NJV). Our now annual Scottish exploit is in it’s 4th year and hopes to reach maturity on our next visit. This is a multi activity week designed to give cadets from Giggleswick School the opportunity to produce a

25 hours on a coach, students suffering from travel sickness and a broken air conditioning unit resulting in the coach reaching a roasting 33 degrees during the journey. This is how 40 Officer Cadets (OCdts) from Liverpool University Officers’ Training Corps (LUOTC) were welcomed into the French Alps ski resort of Tignes. The expedition, Northern

Operation Grouse and Operation Gunnerside were conducted by British trained, hand picked members of the Norwegian SOE. These 11 ‘Heroes of Telemark’ survived in the wilderness of the Hardanga Vidda plateau in Norway for months on end, before successfully mounting two sabotage operations, which severely handicapped the Nazi’s in the race to build the Atomic

"39 cadets … 5 adult instructors … destination Salzburger Sportwelt …" After 30 hours by road and sea, we reached our destination of Küchl, a typically pretty Austrian village surrounded by the stunning Tennengebirge Mountains. Some anxious glances were exchanged at the absence of snow, but our hosts at the Hotel Mühlthaler, soon put our

The eagerly anticipated day of departure, 6 Mar 11, started bright and early at London’s Gatwick airport. All of the ship’s crew, except the skipper who, as Exped project officer, had flown ahead to oversee a week of yacht maintenance, boarded for the 8 hr 45 min Virgin Atlantic flight to St. Lucia. The crew

NORTHERN CHALLENGE 2 was a 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment RLC (V) ski expedition to Ruhpolding, Germany at the beginning of February 2011. Led by a TA Captain with the support of a regular SSgt, the expedition looked deceptively simple to organise on initial inspection. It was only when the icy slopes of the funding applications,

In February 2011, Sea Cadets & Royal Marine Cadets and staff from London and Southern Area joined together to take part in the annual Exercise Alpine Adventure. They travelled by coach to Bavaria in Southern Germany, staying in the town of Bad Hindelang. Once in Bavaria, the cadets undertook a six-day training package; three days

Following the 24 hour journey by mini bus the 4 Yorks team arrived in Sonthofen in the Allgäu region of Germany, ready to attempt the Basic Ski Proficiency Alpine qualification. What was left of the arrival day consisted of signing out the necessary equipment and settling into the accommodation. The exercise was planned and conducted

30 members of 39th Signal Regiment (Volunteers) completed a seven day skiing exercise in Zell-am-Zee in Austria in February 2011. Exercise Lynx Glacier allowed TA soldiers of all different levels to learn and in some cases improve their skiing skills in a demanding and challenging environment. For five soldiers it was their first ever attempt

The aim to the expeditions was to introduce Alpine Ski Touring and pisted skiing to Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV’s) from the ACF, CCF and ATC, further develop those who have previous experience and provide an opportunity for CFAV’s to gain an instructor qualification or revalidate existing qualifications. This expedition was solely dedicated

February half-term provided the time required for 14 cadets from all 3 services of the RGS Guildford CCF to attend the contingent’s annual Winter AT based in Bavaria. The cadets were accompanied by 3 officers from the Contingent. The cadets arrived in a very green and relatively warm Sonthofen as, like most part of the

17 members of London Wing Air Cadets led by Pilot Officer Chris Booty (OC 282 SQN) travelled to the far reaches of the Indian Thar desert to undertake a very special task; to change some very special lives forever. The team embarked on the ‘Thar Horizon’ expedition with the sole aim to bring happiness to

Prior to its deployment on Operation Tosca (United Nations tour of Cyprus), members of 104 Regt RA (V) travelled to Mittersill, Austria, to embark upon Exercise White Dragon, an adventure exercise combining both alpine skiing and ski touring. After skilfully managing to fit all our luggage and ski equipment into a combi van, we departed

After a trouble free flight to Lanzarote, the ten-strong crew arrived at Puerto Calero to embark on HM Sailing Training Vessel KUKRI, a Nicholson 55 cruising yacht, and to meet the Skipper. The first full day was taken up with finding our way around the boat, stowing the mountain of kit away and buying supplies.

If you’re craving the kind of excitement you can’t get from a nine-to-five job, the Territorial Army could be just what you’re looking for. Members of 32 Signal Regiment (Volunteers) had a taste of that real excitement. They’ve left their civilian jobs behind temporarily, to be part of EXERCISE NORTHERN GEO ADVENTURE, in La Tania,