Page 48 - 2016 AMA Spring

Exercise
TIGER THULO TRAVERSE
Introduction – Maj Andy Gooch
Exercise TIGER THULO TRAVESRE (Ex TTT) set out to trek the 1600km length of the Nepalese Himalayas along a route called the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT). It was to follow in the footsteps of ex-Sapper Captain Doc McKerr who became the first person to trek the route solo, unsupported in 2013 in the incredible time of 66 days. This was to be a more sedate affair, but no less ambitious; 115 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen from across the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) were to take 4 1⁄2 months to complete the journey as a series of 8 sequential legs, each one led by a Regiment or Wing of the RMSE.
Legs 1 and 2 had great success and all was going well for Leg 3 when the catastrophic earthquake hit Nepal on 25 Apr 15 triggering an avalanche which injured 8 (4 x soldiers and 4 x Nepalese support staff) and tragically killed 2 of the Nepalese support team from Gurkha Adventures, the trekking company that has been involved from the start. This article aims to briefly cover the highs and low of what was achieved before the inevitable decision was made to cancel the remainder of the expedition and to show what can be achieved with forethought and planning.
Leg 1 - At the top of the Lumbha Samba Pass
Planning for the expedition began in September 2013 by first seeking Comdt RSME’s buy-in and that of each of his Commanding Officers. The next hurdle was to secure a one of the slots for an AT expedition to Nepal in 2015 and a huge vote of thanks must go to the AT Desk Officers Maj (ret’d)Tony Phinn and Lt Col (ret’d) Dougie Peters in Support command and all the staff at Adventure Training Group (Army) for their support and encouragement. By late
Leg 1 - En route to Lumbha Samba pass - Near Cpls Jay Macfadyen and Paul Hudson far - Capts Ollie Wood RE and Tom Howe RE.
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