Page 76 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

Exercise VERTIGO CADET
OCdt Eriksen
Ex VERTIGO CADET was a seven-day expedition to the island of Malta to
push six Officer Cadets out- side of their comfort zones and build mental resilience through rock climbing.
The day after Sovereign’s
Parade, everyone had been
able to visit their respec-
tive homes to get a good 24
hours of RnR, and everyone
was in high spirits before we
met outside Victory Building.
With the majority of us hav-
ing never climbed before,
nerves were high – but so
were spirits. 16 hours later
and we were packing our day
sacks for what would be an incredible first day of climbing.
Day one would be a crash course into the tech- niques used in the sport; a lot of information to take on, but this at least distracts you from the 50m drops either side of you. A gentle abseil into the valley floor was the best introduction to the sport anyone could ask for. Basic climbing skills were developed through day two, and our minds gradually acclimatised to the concept of voluntar- ily leaving the safety of ground beneath our feet.
Feeling like semi-competent climbers, we rose on day three with high expectations. Under the blistering heat, the instructor set up a top rope
and in turns we abseiled down the sea cliffs to climb back up. What we were expecting, a difficult climb was made all the more chal- lenging when drenched in saltwater and being pointed at by the local population wondering what on earth you are thinking. This was the day when the aim of the trip was first truly realised. Once we emerged from the overhang, we all felt we had achieved something special that day. Those of us on day one who couldn’t go 2 metres off the ground without their legs performing a nervous spasm (colloquially called disco leg)
were now climbing hard routes under arduous conditions with smiles on their faces.
From this point, the days flew by. Each day faced new challenges, all of which were overcome with the coping strategies developed on day three. All the aims of the expedition were accomplished, and all with the backdrop of the beautiful island of Malta. From this expedition, six new climb- ing aficionados, who are keen to carry on the demanding sport, are currently planning their next trips to carry on the adventure.
I want to thank the Sandhurst Trust extensively for supporting the expedition and making it possible.
74 SANDHURST