Canoeing/Mountaineering (Summer), '(Tiger) Shrivenham Bethesda', Snowdonia, Jul 2010, ID 1003

Taurus Sqn, DTUS

(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 to the Naval Air Command Mountain Centre Tai Newyddion and completed a 6-day multi-activity package. The activities were run by 4 instructors and all 16 participants achieved the following:

• An overnight expedition with camp at a remote mountain site. The routes used took in a number of 600m+ peaks and were physically demanding. The routes provided stunning views when the cloud base permitted and one group even happened across the wreckage of a long since crashed plane.
• Two challenging mountain bike days, riding at trail centres including Penmachno, Coed-y-Brenin and Llandegla Forest. The Welsh trail centres are second to none, providing a huge selection of grades and length of route and they allow a leader to select routes that will stretch groups of all abilities. The man-made obstacles and sections of boardwalk at Llandegla proved particularly challenging.
• Two days basic kayak training on still water at Llyn Mymbyr. This training covered basic kayak paddling as well as individual and team rescue techniques. A number of other military units were using the Llyn at the time and this provided the opportunity for an almost daily game of kayak polo, with DTUS winning the vast majority of the games.

Snowdonia provided an ideal environment, offering challenging terrain for trekking and mountain biking as well as weather that tested everyone. The accommodation at Tai Newyddion is good value and was an ideal location to come back to after a hard day’s activity to clean equipment, unwind and socialise. The funding received from the Ulysses Trust provided a welcome boost to the Expedition’s budget, reducing the contribution required from already stretched unit funds.

D R Cowdry, Flt Cdr, Taurus Sqn

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