Page 31 - 2018 AMA Summer

Maj Baddeley with just the cornice
to overcome of pinnacle gulley
The first was for the command Standing Unit Plan was written during the Ridge, some of which remains under Cfn
group and the sequel for 12 junior
soldiers. The conditions were perfect; cold, snowy, icy, some patches of sun and plenty of wind. These exercises are proof that “decent AT can be had for next to nothing”; service accommodation (Norwegian Lodge), service equipment (loan pool), service transport, service instructors and CILOR (food) meant the personal contribution was zero - there was no budget.
Previous experience enabled Ex COLD COMMAND to progress onto Grade I ground quickly and by the end of the week we had summited Cairngorm (6th), Ben Macdui (2nd) and Ben Nevis (highest mountain in UK), along with the Goat Track, Pinnacle Gully and No4 Gully on respective routes. More importantly, the
10 hour minibus drive north via a 6-device hotspot WLAN; it includes plenty of AT.
Lack of previous experience forced Ex COLD CRAFTSMAN to start with the very basics; tying boot laces (Pte Nana),
‘Previous experience enabled Ex COLD COMMAND to progress onto Grade
I ground quickly’
putting one big foot in front of the next (Cfn Harley) and not being blown away by the wind (Cfn Clerk). For every bit the weather tried denting morale, LCpl Saini found another amusing story to restore it. We claimed the Grade I Faicaill
Dabinet’s clinging nails, on route to Ben Macdui and performed smoke signal communications from the summit (LCpl McCune). MATT 5 - map reading - was nailed out of sight.
In summary, 18 Winter Mountain Foundation (WMF) awards were granted, 3 munros were ‘bagged’, 4 Grade I routes scaled, lots of comfort zones explored stretched and mountaineering appetites whetted (thanks to ‘Everest’ and ‘Meru’ movie nights). A final word of thanks to the enablers; WO2 (WML) McPhillips of 101 REME, Sgt (Admin) Critchley, Cpl (Chef) Hayward and Cfn (Driver) Wylds. Soldiers of 4 REME can look forward to more mountaineering; in the Rockies after Ex PS1/18, the Alps during the summer and maybe Mt Kenya...
FACTS i
UNIT: 4 ARMD CS BN REME
ACTIVITY: WINTER MOUNTAINEERING
LOCATION: CAIRNGORMS, SCOTLAND
ACCOMMODATION: NORWEGIAN LODGE – DIO SCOTLAND
DEPLOYED PERSONNEL: COLD COMMAND: 9 INCLUDING 2 ADMIN STAFF,
COLD CRAFTSMAN: 16 INCLUDING 2 ADMIN STAFF
BUDGET: THERE WAS NO BUDGET!
Aaaaaaahhhhh – LCpl Saini
UFO-like clouds over Ben Macdui Summit
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 31