The next stage of instruction was to visit the Mer de Glace, a huge slow moving glacier reached by the Montenvers cog railway from Chamonix. On the ice, we learnt to ice axe self arrest, cut steps, and make good use of our crampons. This done, we moved on to the day’s main event: crevasse rescue. Working in three-man rope teams, we simulated a crevasse fall by lowering the first person down into a crevasse. The two on the surface then held the weight and put the rescue plan into action, which meant the middle person placing ice screws, rigging up an unassisted hoist, and with the help of the third person, pulling out the stricken climber. Everyone took a turn at being the middle person on the rope.

On Tuesday 1^st August we split down into two alpine groups and a summer group. Paul Rodenhurst, Zoe Trimm, Jim Turner, Dave Arnot, and Ray Blanchette were led by Kirk Wadsworth. A second alpine group of Andy Carroll, Ken Barker, Andy Wilkins, Ritchie Roberts, and Dave Dewfall was led by Mark Bradbury. The Alpinists had a tough two days of training on the Glacier Tre La Tete, with an overnight stay at Refuge des Conscrits. Meanwhile the summer walking group (Dan Blenkin, Vicky Eyre, Duncan Sleigh, Carl Young) was being trained by John Middler, and during this period they completed their Summer Mountaineering Proficiency Award.

Friday and Saturday brought with them some bad weather and thus a good opportunity for rest and recovery. Many visited the swimming pool and the Alpine Museum. Andy Carroll and Duncan Sleigh meanwhile visited the summer luge d’ete, a kind of summer bobsleigh activity. Andy explained to Duncan that it was quite unnecessary to use the brake fitted to the carts. Unfortunately Andy was wrong in this and upon reaching the second bend was catapulted clear of the track, causing abrasions to himself and his new coat. Also on Saturday, Andy Wilkins, Ken Barker and Vicky Eyre return to the UK, whilst Pete Villiers and Craig Storey joined us in Chamonix.

On Sunday those who had been in the summer group got a turn at alpinism when we visited Refuge Albert Premiere and the next day made an attempt on Aiguille de Tour. Following our exertions on the glacier, we had a less strenuous couple of days. Crag climbing at Vallorcine gave the alpine group the chance to enjoy some superb multi-pitch climbing and also to receive instruction from Kirk Wadsworth on lead climbing skills. The following day we visited Clusaz for more crag climbing and an exhilarating Via Ferrata route led by Mark Bradbury.

The grand finale of the trip was a stay in the Refuge des Cosmiques followed by an ascent of Mont Blanc du Tacul. This was an exciting and rewarding climb at the top of which was a short rock and ice scramble. A massive sense of achievement was felt by all upon summiting this peak and for most people, at 4248m, it was higher than they had ever climbed before. Everyone felt that this ascent, and the trip as a whole, was amongst the most rewarding adventurous training they had ever done, and for some it will certainly have sown the seeds for a lifelong interest in climbing and mountaineering.

LCpl Jim Turner AGC (SPS)