Our adventure training programme includes hill walking, rock climbing
and abseiling. Every summer we have a week long adventure training camp. Several times each year we
do day walks in the Brecon Beacons, or go climbing at local climbing walls.
Caerwent Camp
2006
2006 saw the birth of the Squadron’s Adventure Training Camp at the Caerwent Millitary
Training area. This camp was designed to emalgamate some of the ideas from summer expeditions in the
past (hillwalking, camp craft etc.) and also some new ideas designed to build team skills,
leadership and radio communications in a foreign, yet controlled enviroment. This camp also provided
greater involvement with senior cadets in the organisation and management of the 5-day stay. A team
of cadets and staff are busy organising this year’s camp (now for 7 days) along the same
idea.
Snowdonia Expedition 2003
In 2003 we went to Snowdonia for a week. The first day
was a gentle bimble and some practice at map reading at low level. After that we had a day in the
Glyders, scrambling up Bristly Ridge. A few cadets asked for a confidence rope on the steeper bits,
but the experience of scrambling up a steep rocky ridge was like real mountaineering.
Day 3
was a walk up Snowdon. This was marked by one of the vans breaking down and two of the staff having
to stay with it to get it fixed. We got it fixed by the end of the week, and the rental firm
arranged for a replacement. Meanwhile the rest of the team did Snowdon by the Miners track and Pyg
track.
After 3 days of walking, day 4 started with some rock climbing. In mid afternoon we
returned to hut, packed our overnight sacks and headed for the Rhinogs. We did an overnight camp at
the bottom of the "Roman Steps", sleeping in tents and cooking on stoves. Early on day 5 we headed
up the "Roman Steps" into some really wild country. At the top of the "Roman Steps" pass we left the
path and headed through the rough terrain for lunch at a remote lake. We ate lunch watched by some
wild goats, then cut back across some high moorland to the campsite before returning to the
hut.
The last day was a training day. The staff showed us advanced ropework for climbing, how
to make rope stretchers and carry causalities, how to do river crossings (in a bit of bog, we’re not
allowed to do river crossings for real!) and a walk around the geology of Ogwen valley. It was a
restful but educational finish to the week.
Lake District Expedition 2002
In 2002 we
went to the Lake District and stayed at a hut near Coniston. The picture on the left shows some of
our cadets and staff on Striding Edge, a rocky ridge of Helvellyn. The ridge is quit narrow in
places,and we all needed a head for heights.
While in the Lake District we had two days rock
climbing and abseiling. The picture on the right shows a cadet abseiling at Scout Crag,Langdale. A
member of staff is at the top of the crag to control the safety
rope.
