Page 11 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

into the week by beginning with a hike to a local mountain, Bertha peak. This relatively simple trail allowed us to get a feel for the week to come. Deep Creek Hot Springs followed the next day. The hike was an out-and-back route of roughly six km in total, along terrain which proved slightly tricky at times. The trail was often narrow and sandy under foot, punctuated by very sharp inclines. We liaised with the other expedition and met with them at the springs. The springs were hidden in a sharp valley and were not vis- ible from the trail until we crested the last peak, at which point we were surprised to see an oasis of green below us, having begun to doubt their existence as the hike went on. Having loved the
This trail intersected the famous Pacific Coast Trail
experience so much, we repeated it on our third day from a more arduous southern approach.
On day four, we opted to hike up a peak above Big
Bear Lake following a route known as the Cou- gar Crest Trail. This trail intersected the famous Pacific Coast Trail, a hiking trail which traverses the length of the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Canada, at a distance of over four hundred km. The route was classed as moderate to difficult, so we thought it would suit our group of fit and capable cadets well, without exceeding our abili- ties. The trail was busy with local groups and families, and the views from the top over the lake made the climb very worthwhile.
On our final day of hiking, we decided to chal- lenge ourselves by tackling Sugar Loaf Moun- tain, taking a trail which was also used as a ski trail during the winter season. This offered an additional element of difficulty due to the varying inclines and a few flat sections. This route also took us to the highest altitude we had experi- enced so far, and a number of our group began to feel the effects of this as we climbed. Our instructor had warned us that this may happen, so it did not cause any undue alarm, and we made sure we continued with caution to accom- modate those who were struggling slightly.
The trip was a great opportunity to get to know each other in a non-military context, and also to spend more time with cadets from other compa- nies who we do not usually cross paths with. We gained experience in planning routes, and ensur- ing that all abilities of the group were accommo- dated. As we are all competent navigators, the routes offered the chance to refresh our skills and gain experience on a terrain which was dif- ferent to what we are used to in the UK.
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