Ulysses Trust Expedition

Trekking Expedition ‘Inca Trail 2005’, Peru, June 2005

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Support Unit (Newcastle)

Adventurous Training is one of the key tools for developing leadership amongst Officer Cadets within the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme. Despite the reduced savings held by cadets after a lively first year in Newcastle, the group decided they wished me to take on a more remote and interesting expedition. Cue the Himalayas.

A look across Colca Canyon, with the remote settlements in view.

At the top of Dead Woman’s Pass – a short burst of energy at 4215m.

On arrival in Peru, Lima was a shock to most. Theft is rife, poverty is evident and the local population are less than welcoming. Needless to say, a brief stay was followed by a welcome bus journey following the coast south. With the expedition mainly being conducted above 3000m it was essential to gain altitude steadily and so we travelled south by bus until we reached Arequipa, at 2325m, where we completed our first trek.

Prior to the first trek we all went out for dinner at a local restaurant, hoping to gain a cultural insight. Immediately after ordering, tremors were felt and we thought we had had a quaint introduction to volcanoes. However, after a brief pause the tremors returned, no longer quaint and followed by all customers being evacuated into a courtyard. The earthquake thankfully was just over the border in Chile, and though we were all completely unscathed, fatalities were reported from Chile. The incident was sufficient to reiterate that we really were in the most different of environments and had to accord it our utmost respect.

The first trek was in the Colca Canyon. The locals were unsure at to its exact depth, however, it is the second deepest canyon in the world and an approximate depth would be 1100m. The trek followed a trail from the nearest village to the canyon edge, down to the basin and back up abruptly after traversing through several mountain settlements. Camping was at the local settlements and an incredible experience. The locals could not have been more welcoming and eating dinner under the stars was a most memorable experience.

Machu Pichu – unforgettable.
Machu Pichu – unforgettable
Lake Titicaca where the people move their homes monthly to replenish their floating island.

If the first trek was most memorable, the second was unforgettable. The Inca Trail was packed with breathtaking scenery, wildlife and history. The culmination made the multiple passes, the highest of which – ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ stood at 4215m, fade into memory. We had a 0230 reveille on the last morning to be the first through the entrance gate and after a long wait we made it to the Sun Gate as the first group. Seeing the ‘lost city’ as the sun rose was ingrained on the memory of all.

Although personal contributions were not insignificant, grants had been extremely generous and the cadets unanimously agreed they had been extremely fortunate to have had such an experience, which would otherwise have been well out of reach.

Lt David Lish