Skiing, 'To Boldly Go', Austria, Mar 2009, ID 769

27F Sqn ATC

The aim of the expedition was to provide a 9-day Winter Skills Ski-Mountaineering Training Course in the Swiss Alps for 21 cadets and 5 Civilian Instructors and 3 RAFVR (T) Officers. The objective is to introduce the adventurous training activity of ski-mountaineering, avalanche awareness and winter survival techniques, coupled with the opportunity for individual development in terms of self-motivation, teamwork, communication, leadership and confidence.

After months of planning and pre-expedition training the team came together at London Stanstead airport for the flight to Munich and the start of a week long expedition that would meet the aims set during the expedition’s conception. Much of the cadet’s mountainous adventure training in the UK takes place below the snow line and at low altitudes. Therefore, building on previous London Wing expeditions to the Swiss Alps, it was decided to plan an expedition to offer practical training in Ski-Mountaineering and winter survival skills in a physically demanding and challenging environment.

Arriving in Kirchberg, our accommodation was a self-catering Ski Lodge. The afternoon was spent meeting our guides, collecting skis and boots, being introduced to the equipment and the basic techniques needed to move on snow with skis. Later the team members carried out some basic exercises to establish their ability. By the time the ability of the groups had been determined it was late afternoon and with the weather closing in, we returned to the lodge.

Monday brought whiteout conditions so the team embarked on a low-level trek along the local cross-country ski routes around the town to break in new boots and travel weary legs. Some of the team members soon discovered that cross-country skiing was considerably more physically demanding than first appeared. After some comical interpretations of technique and the weather proving more of a challenge than the skiing, we returned to the lodge for a much needed meal and brief for the following day’s activities.

Tuesday the team was split in to two groups, Team Alpha would embark on a three day cross country trek across the Kitzbuehel region of the Austrian Alps. Team Bravo would set out to prefect technique, and competence was developed on progressively steeper slopes until all participants had mastered the basic principles of turning, speed control and stopping. Team Alpha was seen off by Team Bravo, being the more competent team they would now be put through intensive training. The famous 3S Bahn Tricable Gondola was awaiting the arrival of Team Alpha as they travelled from the base of the mountain to the very top, spending 1h 45min skiing downhill off piste followed by skiing cross country for 2 hours only to than trek back uphill with Skis on shoulders for the best part of 3 hours. Arriving at our lodge for a much needed meal and rest, after the following day’s brief it was lights out.

Wednesday brought clear skies and spectacular views across the entire Kirchberg, Kitzbühel and Jochburg mountain ranges, a perfect start for our journey onwards to our next lodge for the night. It was here that we were able to start the more technical training and progressive altitude acclimatisation needed for the latter stages of the expedition. Basic rope and glacier traverse skills were revised along with the technique required for crevasse rescues. Team Bravo continued their training on the ski fields of the Westerndorf ski area.

Thursday‘s arrival brought with it a fresh layer of powder on the slopes to everyone’s delight. It provided us with perfect conditions for Team Bravo to improve their skills and venture to the top of the mountains and Team Alpha continued to explore the Westerndorf planes in preparation for Friday and Saturday’s finale.

Friday brought more luck with the weather continued into the next day and both teams were introduced to avalanche awareness, basic and advanced winter survival skills and the techniques required building snow holes for shelter. The afternoon was spent putting this knowledge into practice with the teams further split into two groups and tasked with building snow shelters. One team was a little over zealous, constructing a snow hole big enough to accommodate the entire expedition! For team Alpha this would prove to be very useful training as they were about to learn that the really cosy lodge that we had being ascending to all day would in fact be our emergency shelter. Team Alpha, with the help of our guide, built a fantastic snow hole which would cater for all 16 members of the team.

Saturday’s sunrise was Team Alpha’s calling for our descent back to team Bravo. With some members of the team still nursing aching muscles and bruises from the previous day’s physical exploits, the heavy snow proved hard going. But as our skills developed we were able to make good progress, reaching team Bravo by late morning. With the teams reunited, the hard work began the final ski descent back to Kirchberg for our final nights stay. Over the week collectively we had covered approximately 110km of terrain in some of the most spectacular scenery the Alps had to offer, but not without some serious physical exertion.

All the participants enjoyed the expedition, its objectives were met and a number of cadets have used their participation towards gaining their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Our Special thanks to The Ulysses Trust who denoted an amazing grant of £2500. Also thanks to HQ Air Cadets, HQ London Wing, The Royal Air Force Association, JEAP and Spymaster for their support and fanatical assistance. Without such assistance the expedition would not have been the success it was.

Fg Off Usman Mahiz RAFVR (T)

The Ulysses Trust is very grateful for the support for this expedition from the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.

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