Page 20 - Chiron Calling Autumn 2019

18 CHIRON CALLING
This September twenty-three members of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment and twelve of their canine companions successfully completed the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 170km long-distance hiking trail circumnavigating the Mont Blanc Massif. It is well-recognised as being one of the toughest long-distance hiking trails in Europe, and over the course of ten days the total elevation gain was the equivalent of hiking Ben Nevis over seven times. The expedition represented a first for both the Regiment and the Army, in that it was the first time Military Working Dogs have ever formally been deployed on Adventurous Training. Given its success, I for one am hopeful that with the precedent being set, Military Working Dogs will become a regular feature of Regimental Adventurous Training in the future. They coped admirably in arduous conditions despite only having been tested over the course of one weekend in the Peak District before the expedition.
After the long drive to Chamonix, the team first had a rest day to enjoy the local surroundings in the Chamonix valley and prepare themselves for the ten days of hiking ahead. A short walk into the village of Les Houches with the dogs to sample the local delights allowed the team to get used to walking as a group and iron out any niggles before tackling the more
mountainous terrain to come.
Each night the team stayed at a
different campsite, with two members to a tent. Many also had a canine lodger which provided some much-appreciated warmth on the cooler nights, even if one or two seemed to snore and fidget even more than their human companion. The campsites were well equipped and never far from the Tour du Mont Blanc trail. Some were more remote than others; this gave the braver members of the team a chance to enjoy the glacial river washing facilities in the Les Chapieux valley on the fourth day of the expedition.
The route swept over cols and through valleys, winding its way through France, Italy and Switzerland. Whilst misty conditions predominated over the first few days, the team were eventually treated to a week of sun and crystal-clear views of the Mont Blanc Massif. There were plenty of refuges along the route which provided the perfect stopping points to admire the views with a cappuccino and pastry in hand. Sometimes with the sun beaming down and the weight off the feet these stops were perhaps a little too comfortable! The day of hiking along the Chamonix valley included a trip inside the Mer de Glace glacier. Whilst the recent rapid recession of the glacier was a poignant reminder of the effect of global
warming on our environment, the sights through the walkways and tunnels that had been created were spectacular. The final day of the expedition allowed the team to enjoy the sights of Chamonix, cram in some mandatory fridge magnet shopping and eat out as a group in the evening. This meal out gave us a chance to recognise the sterling efforts of Mr and Mrs Morale (Pte Darius Ferrari and LCpl Linsey Furness), and the ‘Calves of Steel’ winner Pte William Tatters amongst others.
A huge thank-you must go to the support crew of LCpl Jennifer Mudd, Cfn Ashley Scott and Pte Alix Godfrey- Chenoweth for looking after the rest of the team throughout the expedition. From shopping and cooking to setting up the tents and gazebo, they were crucial to the success of the expedition. The sight of a fully set-up camp and the smell of dinner in the air as the team came down from the mountains certainly helped our tired legs home and across the finish line. The three instructors Sgt Rachael Mather, Cpl Adam Faulkner and Pte Ellie Samuels also deserve a thank-you for their efforts in ensuring the safety of the team on the mountains and for their enthusiasm in testing conditions.
Here is to more Adventurous Training with Military Working Dogs; who knows where our next expedition might take us.
Ex DRAGON CHIRON BLANC
By Captain James Bladon, Veterinary Officer 104 MWD Sqn