Trekking / Climbing Expedition ‘Northern Marmot’ - Italian Dolomites, July / August 2003
103 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
103 Regiment continued their annual adventure training trips this summer spending 10 glorious days in the Italian Dolomites camping near Cortina. This year the group was a true mix of ability ranging from those there to improve their leadership skills to those there on their first experience of mountain walking and climbing. The aim of the exercise was to develop teamwork through the introduction of mountaineering skills.
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The group were straight into team building when they arrived the airport to find that the Italians obviously understand a minibus to be an estate car. With a little bit of team work the group managed to fit 20 people and bags into four cars and they were underway to the campsite. As they drove down to Cortina, the scenery became more and more spectacular. The first day of activity put the whole group straight to the test with an acclimatisation climb up Rif Lagazuoi. Although the weather was brilliant at the top, the clouds came in and the views were only visible for a few seconds at a time. The decent was through the tunnels dug by the Italian army during the first world war to give them complete cover whilst moving around the mountain, allowing them to easily replenish their troops. The days climb gave the instructors the chance to access the parties abilities and separate them into smaller groups for the remainder of the trip. |
As the trip was to involve via ferrata (walks/climbs on the Italian mountains which have metal cable permanently attached), the next day was a skills day teaching everyone the rope skills they would need during the remainder of the trip. After everyone had tied themselves in knots putting their harness on and tying themselves into their breaking system, they practiced on a low level via ferrata taking them under a waterfall (very spectacular). Once they had got they hang of clipping on and off, they were confident that they would be able to progress to bigger and better mountains.
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By the end of the trip, each group had achieved a great deal with everyone reaching the top of Col Rosa. Everyone agrees this was one of the highlights of the trip, not only because the views were so spectacular, but also because the climb was challenging and very enjoyable. The second high-light was the bridge spanning a gap on Cresta Banca, along with the amazing views seen from every ridge visited.
Although for everyone the trip was for the walking and climbing, the days off were very much appreciated to give peoples legs time to recover for more. A day was spent visiting a mountain top museum of the Great War, which showed how the tunnels had been dug and what living conditions were like. Some of the group visited Venice to lap up the culture, walking the streets and taking a trip in a gondola.
The trip was a very successful. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, and exceeded the expectations by all those that took part. The group would like to express their thanks to Lt Col David Iffland for providing the opportunity of adventure training abroad, Capt Ray Hamlett for organising the trip and being an excellent group leader, WO2 Hendrick Steutel, SSgt Geoff Atkinson and SSgt Glynn Evans for being excellent group leaders and teaching the group a lot of valuable skills.
If you would like to have a chance of joining in the fun, then come along to 103 Regiment Royal Artillery to find out more or call 01744 22255.
Lt Rachel McKay Miller