After nearly two years of planning, cadets and staff of 633 (West Swindon) Squadron celebrated achieving squadron status on 1st December 2009 with a special expedition to climb some of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees.
The trip began with an idea 20 months ago to widen the cadet’s expedition experience and complete a 5 day trek in the Pyrenees. The trek was open to those who had completed the Bronze, Silver or Gold expeditions of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and it was also an opportunity to complete the celebration of squadron status given to us at over 10,000ft.
The 10 cadets taking part and the squadron came up with different ways to raise money for the trip, this included applications to different trust funds for adventure activities for young people, letters to local companies, car parking duties, bag packing, cake stalls, laser quest evening, night hike and cadet contribution.
Day one (7km/1300m climb/6hrs) of the trek started very warm, with an easy walk up to L’Hotellerie du Cirque. We had our first break and surrounded by the amazing view of the Cirque de Gavarnie and the largest waterfall (422 m) in Europe – Grande Cascade de Gavarnie or Gavarnie Falls– coming from Glacier de la Cascade. It was then time to work our way across the bottom of the Cirque to take up the HRP – Alta Ruta Pirenaica (Pyrenean High Route), working our way up the L’Echelle des Sarradets “the ladders”, which proved to be a challenge for some in the group, but for most an opportunity to enjoy the view of the waterfall, eat our fresh baguette of ham and cheese from the hotel and catch a welcome sight of the our accommodation for the first night, the Refuge de la Roland – 2587m. Whilst waiting outside the hut we relaxed after our 6½hr walk, with a book, chess, watching Marmots and taking in the surrounding views.
Cdt Sgt Moore: ‘The best part of day one would have to be having lunch high up on the rock face looking over Europe’s tallest water fall which we had just climbed. It built up a big appetite’.
Cdt Hornbuckle(f): ‘Today was also the day that we had our first encounter of snow, unbelievable seeing as it was July! We also saw a Marmot for the first time today which was nice!’
Day two (8km/6 hrs) started with breakfast at 0730 having had very little sleep, sharing a room with 24 people, many of whom seemed to snore all night. We set off at 0800 continuing along the HRP route down-hill to the River Ara on to the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. It had been a windy day to start with, but by lunch at the river the weather started to improve and sun came out. Whilst having lunch a small party of Spanish students arrived, instead of using the bridge, they were marched through the very cold river with bewildered spectators looking on. We continued our journey over the bridge and along the road to our rather luxurious accommodation for the evening – the Camping y Refugio Valle de Bujaruelo.
Cdt Battman: ‘We crossed the French/Spanish border into Spain. It was a fairly cold morning considering the hut we stayed in was surrounded by snow but as we walked into Spain, the shorts were out and the sun cream was on!’
Day three began after a good sleep and a packed breakfast ready for the 22km to Refugio de Goriz Hut – 2200m. We saw some impressive views of the Vale de Bujaruelo and the River Ara, picking up the GR11 (which runs from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea) to Pradea de Ordesa which enabled us to have a short break – toilet, ice cream and cold drink. We then had our main height climb for the day of 600m in an hour and half, zigzagging our way up Senda de Los Cazadores. Keith made the decision to let the three CWO’s of the trip to take control and lead the way up to the view-point. The weather was overcast for most of the day, but this helped with the traverse along and up to the Goriz Hut, a very busy one with everybody’s aim to walk up to Mt Perdido.
Cdt Hornbuckle(f): ‘Day three was the day I was dreading most as I was told it would be the longest day, with a climb similar, but not as high, as the one we had done on the first day. But it turned out to be my favourite day of the trip.’
CWO Parker(f): ‘There were some high points but also some lows; it was just the consistent uphill, downhill climb that bugged me. We put all the effort in to come back down; it would have been nice if there had been a flat path or maybe a bridge between the two. I kept thinking about how my legs were toning in order to keep my morale levels high.’
Day four (7km/1200m climb/7hrs – round trip) started with the now normal routine of the huts and to be ready for walking at 0800, to “venture adventure” the air cadet motto up to Mt Perdido (3325m). We walked the well-cairned path to a small lake – Lago Helado. Unfortunately due to a late snow fall in April, we were unable to continue on the intended route up to Mt Perdido, but did make it a little further to a col at 3050m (10,000ft), 300m short of the mountain. We were defeated by snow and ice which blocked our way to the summit – we would have needed ice axes, crampons and the cadets are not trained in the use of them. This didn’t spoil our day everyone was pleased with their achievement.
CWO Parker: ‘Standing at the top I felt a sense of achievement not only for me but for the others around me: together we had made this happen, together we were at the top of the Pyrenees. Team photos and hugs were definitely needed as everyone was relieved to have accomplished our major challenge.’
Day Five (21km/400m climb/9hrs) We started walking at 0730 leaving behind the experience of mountain hut culture – walked along a path leading across mixed ground over two col’s before climbing over boulder ground to the Brèche de Roland (2807m), a huge gash in the frontier ridge between France and Spain. For about 150m the path was tricky due to the snow conditions – care was needed to descend until we reached the Refuge de la Brèche de Roland, where we had a much needed break, before descending steeply until the grassy Vallée des Pouey Aspé and continued the final 45min walk back down into Gavarnie. We were met by our hosts Bernard and Roselyne Fillastre.
Cdt Sgt Cordas ‘The trip to the Pyrenees has given me so many memories that it’s impossible to write them down on a sheet of paper. But one thing that this has taught me and that is – that nothing is ever impossible to do!’
Cdt Sgt Cordas ‘But this expedition would never have been possible without donations from John Thornton’s Young Achievers Foundation, The Ulysses Trust, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and Mini Swindon. Without their support I’m pretty sure that the trek would not have been able to take place. So a very big thank-you! But not only that a big thank you has got to go to all the staff that helped this expedition take place – Helene, Dave and Keith!’