929 – ‘Canford Norwegian Venturer Tiger’ – Norway, Hardangervidda Plateau

Canford has been running cross-country skiing expeditions for some fourteen years now with a number of cadets each year benefiting from the experience of a week’s cross-country skiing, snow holing, camping and ice-climbing, whilst experiencing the delights of the famous Norwegian ski touring huts. This year, once again, helped with some generous support from the Services and the Ulysses Trust, fifteen CCF cadets, aged fourteen and fifteen, made the journey to Hovden close to the Hardangervidda to test their skills and endurance in the famous Telemark region.

On cross-country skis for the first time, the cadets’ balance was quickly tested, sorely at times, but as confidence grew the competitive streaks began to emerge with the traditional racing snakes battling it out for supremacy. The weather was warm, too warm, judging by the melted pools of water which they skied through in the process, but the groups gelled quickly with the instructors, Rick and his “No Sarcasm Allowed” Team, Smudge and his “You Are Not Allowed To Smile” Team and Bill with “Team Carnage” all providing much entertainment as they floundered about Hovden’s tracks in front of the professional locals and their wry sympathetic smiles. Basic skills gradually improved along with other elements of survival: emergency shelters and avalanche awareness and finally simple expedition administration left the cadets ready to embark on their three day expedition.

Leaving the relative comfort of Hartevassbu and its cold showers to climb up out of the Hovden valley laden for two days was a bleak prospect, but gradually the rhythm settled and the cadets’ training did the rest. Their first stop saw them practising using the “Bothey” shelter; a parachute type object which stretched over each group protecting it from the wind and using the body heat generated to keep the group warm whilst the cadets’ tackled their lunches and sang a few songs. Finally after completing thirteen kilometres the groups veered off the track to find a large snow bank and started digging their snow holes: each shelter sleeping six or seven was completed, some of five star quality with standing room, others a touch more compact. Cold sumps, escape routes, ventilation ducts (and vaulted ceilings) all added to the architectural finesse and then finally the cadets settled to the endless round of stories, laughter and banter along a with a bit of sleep and some snoring to while away the hours.

The cadets’ were eventually roused by Bill the Marine Mountain Goat with a simple “Hey, get up and get a hot wet down yer” and then emerged slowly after boiling some water and packing their bergens. The first stage of the day’s fourteen kilometre trip began with steep downhill section – not great with skis that flopped around on a hinge and had no edges, but after that the day improved as the cadets made their way along a long valley of frozen lakes before finally arriving at the hut “Bernasbu”. Not a moment too soon either, as a fiendish snow storm gathered pace. Big log fires and a monster bunk kept the team in high spirits and after a night of games and forfeits, including press-ups in ones underwear in the snow outside and a massive tub of porridge early next morning, the party set off into the oblivion feeling a bit like Captain Oates did all those years ago. However, as the cadets descended the valley the wind abated and left them skiing through powder snow amongst the fir trees – just like in Narnia in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” before finally arriving at a road head and concluding the expedition, the trip and an experience of a lifetime.