Page 63 - LBV 2017

INTER-COMPANY TRAINING & VISITS
one of the highlights of the trip.
An early start on Sunday began the first and
furthest day of walking, with the group put through its paces by the ascent of Lochnager
– the first of the 6 Munros to be summited. The cloud generously held off to provide stunning views of the Balmoral Estate from the top, only, thoughtfully, descending in the
afternoon and evening to provide
some excellent navigational
practice for those working towards
their Mountain Leader Training
courses. Racing dusk down to
picturesque Loch Callater, we
spent the night in a Bothy (Scottish
mountain hut) at Callater Stable. Here we made some long-faced friends for our staple (or should that be stable) diet of couscous and soup powders, requiring OCdt Matson’s best horse- whispering skills to avert disaster.
The next day traded the soaring heights of the
Munros for the soaring heights of witty banter and philosophy, as the group traversed though the foothills North, via a resupply in Braemar, to base camp below Ben Macdhui. Here our luck (and the wind) finally ran out and we experienced a taste of the ‘worst midge count recorded
for 50 years’, as the local estate manager had enthusiastically informed myself and OCdt Wettern on the recce
two weeks before.
We thanked the return of the
wind the following morning – it did, however, serve to cut short the inaugural game of Adventure Croquet (held at the 1000m mark
during the ascent. Readers are encouraged to follow the development of this rapidly growing sport as it seeks full recognition from the Croquet Association). Pressing onwards, Ben Macdhui did not disappoint - the UK’s second highest point, providing panoramic views of the entire Grampian
OCdts hanging around!
...worst midge count recorded for 50 years...
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 61