Page 247 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
be a responsible climber. This meant training to a level at which I knew I had the skill-set to enable me to make decisions for myself and react appro- priately if I got into trouble on the mountain. My training included much mountaineering and winter climbing, including in Scotland, the Alps and the Himalayas. I climbed at increasing altitude, including ascents of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America, and Denali, which required me to climb whilst also pulling a sledge of essential equipment behind me.
I needed to be in peak physical fitness, and I spent my weekends thrashing myself across Dartmoor or the Welsh hills, often against the elements, carrying almost 30kg (mainly tins of beans!) on my back. There were lots of times when it was cold and dark outside and all I wanted to do was have a pizza and a glass of wine in front of theTV,butIalwaysforcedmyselftotrain.Iwasn’t going to let a lack of commitment thwart my plans!
A posting to Scotland in command of 225 (Scottish) Medical Regiment put me closer to the Scottish mountains and munros and my winter climbing took on new limits. Juggling my training schedule with Commanding a Reserve Regiment at a time of exciting and significant change and development of the Reserves was challenging enough. All my free-time and leave was committed to preparations, either camped in my motorhome at the bottom of a mountain to gain easy access to the hills and glens or procuring and double- checking essential kit and equipment.
It was vital that I carefully considered the risk that I was putting myself in. In the three years of training, I had witnessed first-hand the dangers of mountaineering. In particular, in the final months before departing for Everest, I had been extremely lucky to escape death when I was caught up in a huge avalanche disaster which killed eleven climbers on Manaslu, an 8000m peak in the Himalayas. The tragedy really made me think about what I was getting myself into.
After three years of preparation, at the end of March this year, it was finally time to do it!
I packed my kit and re-packed it three more times for certainty, said my goodbyes and headed off to Tibet. I was going to tackle Everest via the North Ridge – a slightly more technical option than the more favoured South Col route.
It took almost two months to reach the summit, mainly due to the need to acclimatise. You move up and down the mountain, gradually getting your body used to the reduced oxygen and the physio- logical effects that come with climbing at altitude.
It was not all plain sailing. Physically my muscles and stamina felt fine. My mental determination was definitely in place; but my body found it hard to keep up with what I expected of it! The second time that we climbed to the North Col I spent the night sat bolt upright struggling to manage more than three forced breaths at a time – the result of a chest infection. I have never experienced such a long night!
My military training and experiences definitely stood me in good stead – enabling me to cope with the harshness of the mountain, fit well into a team and constantly assess risks and adapt; it gave me the determination and calmness to descend safely when, yet again my body tested me, and I suffered from partial sight loss – a symptom I now discover is not that uncommon in climbers entering the “death zone”, otherwise recognised as the area where most people die on the mountain because conditions are so treacherous. I had to work my carabiners largely by feel alone and had to lower myself down inch by inch feeling for my next foothold, aware of the consequences of misplacing my footing on the side of this mountain with literally a sheer drop beneath. There was no room for panic.
It feels incredible to have reached the top of Everest. I feel relieved that all my preparation and training was worthwhile and that the team was successful. I feel that I have achieved something which I wasn’t sure I’d be able to. There were times on the mountain, particularly during the descent, when I really felt that my body was being physically and mentally tested. To be able to look back on that success is amazing. Each member of the team had different reasons for wanting to summit Everest and different challenges to overcome to get there. Experiencing that journey as part of a close-knit team was a valuable experience.
My thanks to Adventure Peaks, and Scottish mountain guides Di Gilbert and Richard Bentley for their support.33
And finally....
Anyone reading this and wondering about the why and the how ...of the Exercises and Expeditions I think it’s fair to say that the ‘why’ is down to the soldiers’ desire to prove to themselves that they have what it takes physically, psychologically, and professionally to do what needs to be done and to achieve against the odds. And the how? Because the men and women of the RAVC...are made of something akin to iron girders!
33 Chiron Calling Autumn 2013.
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