Under the watchful eye of our Contingent Officers, Major Patchett, Captain Willmore and Lieutenant Macgregor, we loaded up the coach with our kit for the first leg of our journey to Edinburgh Airport on the early evening of Monday 4 April. We were about to embark on what was described as a tough, challenging expedition to the Hardangarvidda plateau in Southern Norway. Prior to setting off Captain Willmore, the Expedition Leader, had a quiet word with Paul Phillips, Marcus Reid and Patrick Bowtle, explaining that he expected them to provide a great deal of assistance to the other team members due to their experience gained on the previous year’s expedition.
Fortunately our journey via Oslo to Haugastol, our expedition base, went to plan and we arrived very early on the Tuesday morning. Heads were soon resting on the pillows in our very comfortable rooms in our mountain hotel. A late start began with Captain Willmore, Paul, Marcus and Patrick heading out into the snow to prepare technique tracks for the novice members of the team. Meanwhile Major Patchett and Lieutenant Macgregor issued the skis, boots and poles. Once fitted, we headed out to the technique tracks that had already been prepared by Captain Willmore and the experienced skiers. It was at this time that we realised that being late would make us very fit as Captain Willmore dished out press-ups like we were at a keep fit seminar! Once late, never again! After learning the technique of travelling across snow on skis, the group went off for our first short tour, incorporating skills such as turning, pole planting, stopping and hill climbing. The short day outside ended in a team photograph taken by our resident professional Major Patchett who in the evening gave us the first of several interest talks about ski-ing, mountaineering and military life.
The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, back on the technique tracks we consolidated what we had been taught on the first day. Another short tour followed, with a couple of hill climbs using the herringbone and side step method and once at the top we all had to come back down. Easier said than done and quite a number of quite large pot holes appeared in the snow! In particular Cameron Menzies-Runciman, Matthew Tait and Paul Phillips made holes so large they had to be dug out. The female members of the team, Charlotte Pritchard, Katie Hiscocks and Hannah Gauld were really holding their own against the guys and all three showed a great deal of determination and guts. After lunch Major Patchett instructed us on the digging of snow holes and under the direction of Marcus and Patrick the group were split into two teams and a snow hole competition began. Marcus and his team came first with Patrick’s team a very close second!
The weather was starting to change for the worse as we left the accommodation on the Thursday morning. After a very short tour Captain Willmore found an interesting slope for us to ski down. There were many falls and unfortunately Cameron Menzies-Runciman had a particularly awkward fall, going uphill I might add, and was unable to continue, so Captain Willmore accompanied him back to the hotel. Major Patchett took the remainder of the group on a longer way home. Returning to the hotel was a good call as the weather turned for the worse, with the wind gusting to 60 mph. Sadly the atrocious conditions were to remain for the next 36 hours.
On the Friday we awoke to continuing high winds and bad weather so the decision was made that Major Patchett would give another lecture in the morning and that we would go on our trip to the spa hotel and pizza restaurant in Geilo, normally saved for the last day. Suffice to say an excellent afternoon was had by all.
Saturday we had planned to ski to a mountain hut and fortunately the weather had changed. It was an excellent day all round. The tour, which should not be under estimated for its challenge, and especially knowing how little ski touring experience most of the group had, was enjoyed by all. Those who completed it, Marcus Reid, Patrick Bowtle, Chris Warden, Matthew Tait, Cameron Turner, Sam Dillon, Oliver Forde, Paul Phillips, Charlotte Pritchard, Katie Hiscocks and Hannah Gauld really do deserve a pat on the back for a great effort.
Sadly our last day on the snow had arrived and our final tour on the Sunday had us skiing over a very large frozen lake where we met up with other skiers heading for various mountain huts scattered across the Hardangarvidda plateau. We enjoyed meeting other groups as most Scandinavians speak perfect English. After another enjoyable tour we were met by Terje Kaupang, our hotel’s owner, in his trusty coach and we returned to the hotel. In the afternoon Captain Willmore led us around a circuit in order to make the track we were going to race around. Individuals were set off at minute intervals. After a great deal of effort by all, the fastest time, by a good margin, was set by Matthew and for the girls Charlotte came home in a blistering time! Suitably shattered we all retired back to the hotel to begin the task of preparing our skis and accessories for hand over and our own kit for our trip home to Crieff, which went off without a hitch on the following day
On the achievement side it was good to see that most of the twelve cadets had put themselves in the right physical and mental state in preparation for some strenuous days. Those who did not prepare themselves sufficiently inevitably gained less from the experience. It was also gratifying to receive compliments on in-house behavior, especially from other UK visitors. Some cadets showed remarkable resilience in attempting to rewrite the laws of physics, particularly gravity, and others came up smiling from some deep, wet snow tumbles.
This year the weather was hugely varied with everything from gales, snowstorms and rain to blazing sunshine. By changing round the programme we managed to fit in some fine days out on the hills, including a new route, for us, back from the Hardangarvidda. The traditional end of course outing to Geilo happened earlier than usual and we skied hard up to and including the last day. Traditional events such as the snow hole building competition and final race were subject to ever evolving rules to test initiative. Lectures ranged from safety in the snow to trekking and climbing in Ladakh, Nepal and the USA. For the third time we happened to have Hannah McKeand also staying at Haugastol and for the third time she gave us a very inspirational talk on her polar travels. Hopefully those who have learned the skills of "skinny" ski-ing in Norway will be keen to carry on this sport in the future and maybe even get out to enjoy the winter hills of Scotland in the same way.
The trip would not have been possible without the leadership, instruction and organisation of our Contingent Officers, Major Patchett, Captain Willmore and Lieutenant Macgregor. We should also mention Terje and Elborg Kaupang, the hotel owners who pull out all the stops when it comes to offering advice and assistance, especially the "fast balls" we throw their way asking for transport and meals at short notice.
However, the Expedition would not take place but for the generosity and tremendous financial support from the Ulysses Trust, the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and the Army in Scotland Trust. We really do appreciate the opportunity of taking part in such an exciting and challenging expedition. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals and committees involved and reassure them that we really do appreciate your help and all the hard work you do for us and others.