Page 25 - 2000 AMA Millenium

roof of Snowdonia
walk having lost another member of the group this time to a very sudden, violent and unpleasant intestinal disorder. However at that point it started to rain and by the top of peak number nine (Pen yr Ole Wen) the rain was arriving horizontally at about 40mph, the cloud base had started to descend and it was bitterly cold.
With foul weather on the cards a complete set of waterproofs was essential for every member of the group - two cadets admitted to having left part of theirs on the coach at lunch and were returned, protesting, to the valley with yet another adult helper while the rest pressed on! By 1930 on Carnedd Liewellyn the mist had turned to dense hill-fog which made locating the narrow ridge leading to peak number twelve a real navigational challenge -so much so that we had to have two attempts at it!
By 21 00 it was dark in addition to everything else and from then on all progress had to be achieved using a compass and simultane­ ously monitoring the time and number of steps spent on precise bearings! Such meticulous route finding was all-absorbing and quite exhausting but by 2130 we were all seated in the relative warmth of the Mountain Refuge on top of the second-last peak Foel Grach. It was difficult to tear ourselvesaway from such a sanctuary but the lone mountaineer whose peace we had shattered was only too happy to wave goodbye to his eighteen unexpected visitors!
The party reached the trig-point on the fourteenth and final peak at 2240, having spent about 15 minutes operating a line-search in order to find it! However their euphoria at reaching their goal soon wore off as they embarked on two hours of tramping through bogs and struggling against the wind and fatigue to reach the minibus at the end of the traverse. Throughout this time a good many of the weary souls were only kept going by the thought of hot chocolate waiting for them at the end of the track coming down from Drum where it meets the Roman Road.
Once seated in the minibus exhaustion completely diminished any sense of achievement and we returned to our accommodation in complete silence except for the deep-breathing of those who had already fallen asleep. However in the days that followed (and once back in Oundle) the scale of what we had accomplished in the face of quite severe weather began to dawn on all of us. Alas, there were no radio interviews, as for the Firbanks, but we all felt that we had contributed something to the continuing mountaineering history of Oundle and Laxton Schools CCIF Contingent and the CC17 in general.
Any members of the Association who would like further details of the traverse should contact the author,
Lt W Holmstrbrn, c/o The Armoury’, Oundle School, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4EN
Army Sports Climbing Competition
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International Climbing Centre will play host to Army and AMA sports climbers on Friday 5th May 2000. The Centre which is admittedly a little off the beaten track is reported to be the largest Climbing Wall in UK, possibly Europe with over 6000 square metres of climbing surface. Routes vary in height from 17m to a massive 22m and a main overhang of 8 metres.
The Centre has first class facilities including an excellent cafe for refreshments, changing and shower facilities, ample parking space, and an on site climbing shop.
The normal categories will be catered for in the individual competition. VS, FIVS-E1 and E2 but this year the team competition will take on a new guise to encourage more units to take part. A team of four climbers will pair off to attempt two routes, separate from the individual competition.
The team captain will decided which pair climbs that route. The first climber of each pair will attempt to reach the top of his or her selected route. They win then lower off and change over. A time limit will ensure that the team is under pressure from the off. Both pairs will climb simultaneously and there will be a simplified scoring system.
In addition to the individual and team competition there will be a number of fun events; a bouldering competition, a speed event and an endurance event will ensure no one has time to get bored during the day.
Finally, this year the first 100 competitors to enter will be eligible to claim for travel to the event. Look out for an application form in DCI Army (Operational and Training) or contact W02 Mike Smith on 94355 8306 or Fax 94355 8303.
ruly awesome, that is the only way to describe the venue of the 7th Army Sport Climbing Championships. The Welsh
Army Mountaineer
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