Page 45 - AMA Summer 2023

evening lectures introduced the cadets to mountain hazards, avalanche safety, weather conditions, cold weather injuries, survival shelter building and the story of the Telemark Heroes through the medium of the Ray Mears television series broadcast on the BBC some years ago. The cadets then selected themselves into two teams, with the proviso being that our technical experts, the instructors who had been training them, would have a final veto on grounds of skiing competence. However, as is often the case when you give young people responsibility after careful briefing, they made sensible choices and their choice of personnel for each team stood.
The long HOT team were then introduced to the specialist equipment they would be using on the expedition while the short HOT team went to meet the husky team that would be supporting them and the musher who owned and ran them. The next day the long HOT team deployed north to their expedition start point while the short HOT team continued their ski training. This was the point at which the one factor that cannot be planned for in advance kicked in; the weather. Dynamic risk assessment became the name of the game, with a change in the forecast indicating the possibility of severe weather ahead. This had potentially serious impli- cations and led to some swift planning to ensure the safety of both teams. The route for the long HOT team was shortened to bring them off the plateau earlier and keep them away from avalanche risk and the decision was made not to launch the short HOT team onto the plateau. This was to avoid the possibility of bad weather trapping the teams on the plateau, with the ongoing safety and logistical problems that would cause.
Instead, having been introduced to all the expedition equipment, the short HOT
team moved north to student accommo- dation giving access to some routes used by the saboteurs and carried out day trips on these with the husky team and the pulk. The long HOT team deployed by snow scooter to one of the huts used by the original saboteurs, Fjaerefit Hytte and the following day, in overcast conditions, skied to Berunten Hytte. Overnight, 40cm of snow fell causing there to be avalanche warnings on all aspects of slope. Instead of journeying to the next hut, the team went onto the plateau to experience the conditions and gain an understanding of dynamic decision making before returning to the hut. A further 50cm of snow fell overnight and the following day the team took a safe route across the plateau to a newly organised hut off at a lower altitude. There, they overnighted before making their way to the rendezvous.
Finally, both teams came together again and moved into a hotel with fantastic views over the Hardangervidda. There, they were briefed on the final advance to contact to Rjukan, to be led by an ex-Nor- wegian Army Colonel who was an expert on Op GUNNERSIDE. The next day, now in snowshoes due to snow conditions, they retraced the exact route taken by the saboteurs to attack Rjukan, stopping
at relevant places to be briefed on what had happened by the Colonel. It was a fascinating exercise, ending up with visiting the museum dedicated to the Heroes of Telemark based in the actual heavy water factory building at what is now a hydroe- lectric plant.
After a final dinner in the hotel, everyone was presented with the Snowsport Awards they had achieved and certifi- cates recording their participation in the Heroes of Telemark re-enactment. It was a fitting finale to an excellent expedition which had given everyone an opportunity to understand the resilience, bravery, teamwork and leadership which enabled the original saboteurs to achieve their mission. We carry out adventurous training in the Army Cadets to develop the personal, social, teamwork and leadership skills of our cadets and CFAVs and being able to follow the story of the Heroes of Telemark really brought the importance of these skills to life.
This expedition would not have been possible without financial support from the Ulysses Trust, Regional Command Cadet Branch and the Army Cadets Charitable Trust (UK) and we are very grateful for their generosity, ensuring the opportunity was open to all cadets whatever their financial situation.
If you have any AT qualifications and feel you would like to utilise them to help develop young people to enable them to achieve more in their personal lives and contribute more to society, why not type your postcode into the search function on ‘www.armycadets.com’ to find your nearest ACF detachment. You will be most welcome!
Pulking Along
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 45