Between August 3rd and August 12th, Sheffield UOTC took 16 intrepid Officer Cadets to Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the midst of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy. The purpose of this expedition was to introduce the group to the climbing methods of via ferratta, where one climbs up the side of a mountain using a variety of ladders and steel cabling bolted into the side of the rock face.
The journey to Italy was just shy of 1000 miles, and travelling by minibus would have been the preferred method of travel by all, but we nonetheless arrived in good spirits, ready to enjoy our little adventure! The surrounding countryside provided some absolutely incredible views, with mist-capped mountains surrounding by picturesque meadows with quaint little Cortina at its heart.
The climbing itself was tough and demanding, with all the group needing to master the techniques quickly. The views at the top were spectacular, and made the challenge of reaching the summit truly worthwhile!
To truly make the most of our being in Italy, we naturally had to sample the local cuisine, which all can testify was outstanding! The group then attempted to replicate this on two nights with an inter-gender cook-off. In what may prove to be a surprise result, the judges unanimously went in favour of the gentlemen’s efforts.
The group also visited the Cortina museum on the Great War. It was sobering indeed to realise that nearly a hundred years before, young men were fighting for control of the mountains we were so enjoying. Indeed, the sheer difficulty of actually waging a war in such surroundings was by no means lost on any member of the group.
With the expedition completed, we began the journey home. We broke this up by having a fantastic night in Stuttgart and an exquisite meal in Reims before all returned to Sheffield. Truly a trip that will continue to be talked about and remembered for many years to come.
We would like to add that without the funding of the Ulysses trust, we would not have had sufficient funds to equip everyone properly, so we extend our warmest thanks for your kind donations.