Mountaineering, 'Ventura Dragon Izzard', Spanish Pyrenees, Aug 2011, ID 1085

Hereford Cathedral School CCF

Expedition Ventura Dragon Izzard II took place in August 2011 with 25 participants. An Advance Party of four travelled out to Spain overland by minibus with equipment, and set up a base camp in the small town of Espot in north Catalonia. This is just outside the Aigues Tortes National Park, (Aigues Tortes meaning twisted waters) a dramatic area of lakes surrounded by peaks of between 2500m and 3000m. The main party flew out from Bristol Airport to Barcelona and were driven the four hours to Espot.

The first few days were spent acclimatising, enjoying the dry weather and then the more rugged terrain. Navigational skills, and map work were refreshed, and day walks planned and undertaken to build up fitness levels. The group climbed from 1300m in Espot over the Portarro d’espot 2400m, and on to stay a night at the Refugio de Estany Long. The next day the group continued over another Col to the Colomina Hut where a second night was spent. This three day hike helped to ensure group members adjusted well to the altitude and the climate. The experience over the first few days enabled participants to better assess their abilities and their timings over the various legs of a journey.

On the 12th of August Lt. Col. Andrew Eames and his wife, joined the party. They did a fantastic job as base team for the remainder of the expedition ensuring that there was always plenty of food in camp. Everyone went rafting on the Pallaresa Noguera on the 13th August, a 2 hour white water trip. We paddled for Britain but ended up ‘man-overboard’ into Spanish waters!

The whole party then moved 35km to the small hamlet of Areu in an adjacent valley. This was practice in striking and then setting up camp, which proved to be a useful exercise, with personal organisation involved along with team work.

The senior cadets then made final preparations for a four day self-reliant, self-sufficient expedition. Instructors checked, and where necessary amended route cards prior to them setting out. The planned route was a circular one, which started and finished at the campsite in Areu, which obviously avoided any of the logistics involved with drop offs and pick ups!

WO2 (SSM) Stephen Davies JSMEL/MLS provided the supervision and assessment of this group. The junior cadets set off on a shorter route, they too would be away from camp for 4 days. They took tents and food with them. WO1 Moffatt JSAML, and myself, IML accompanied them, along with an ex cadet. Both groups spent the next 2 nights at altitudes in excess of 2200m where they were fortunate in seeing izzards (Pyrenean deer), eagles, lammergeiers, choughs, marmots, lizards, frogs and toads and carpets of wild flowers. The mountain lakes were full of trout, crystal clear, and provided a welcome bathe at the end of a hot day.

All groups navigated successfully over the next three days. Some sections of the routes followed the well way-marked GR11 but other legs crossed un-marked terrain. Cols of 2758m, 2380m and 2650m were passed which were highlights for the participants offering fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. The junior cadets crossed the border into France, it went down in the diary as a day trip to France, but was in reality a scramble up to a 2600m col which straddled the frontier.

Once the expedition phase was over there was a de-brief, after which the importance of cleaning, drying and checking used kit was emphasised.

All the cadets were treated to a canyoning experience. This entailed squeezing into a wetsuit again, getting wet again and a lot of abseiling down water-falls, the activity was greatly enjoyed by all who participated.

On the last night, dinner was held in the local hotel, where ‘awards’ and various ‘thank you’s’ were said.

The weather was kind to us throughout the four day expedition, and although rain looked threatening at times, it dissipated and we ended up with clear skies again. The only heavy rain we experienced was when we were in camp, which meant we managed to keep most things dry.

The whole expedition was made possible by the generous donations received, notably the £1000 granted by the Ulysses Trust, for which we extend our grateful thanks. I also wish to thank all the adults who assisted me in running such a successful expedition and the cadets themselves for entering so wholeheartedly into the spirit of the expedition and for being such good company.

Captain Alexandra Campbell

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