Page 32 - AMA Winter 2023/24

CADETS
EXERCISE CORTE CHALLENGER
Lt Col Cath Davies – Army Cadets Adviser for Adventurous Training
TArmy Cadets take on the toughest walk in Europe
he French as a nation are a mixture expedition comprised of three teams of six marked route and the café right by the of contrasts, casual in some cadets each led by an ML qualified Cadet start point has the whole route with all the matters and very organised in Force Adult Volunteer, with an inexperi- stopping points named on a map painted
others! On the latter side, their network of long-distance footpaths, Les Grandes Randonnés, are well documented, written up, signposted and supplied with huts and campsites. The GR20, which bisects Corsica via its highest peaks, is widely considered to be the most challenging of these routes given its vertiginous nature and remoteness.
This made it a worthwhile target as a national expedition for the Army Cadets; something most units would be unable to accomplish on their own due to the logistical complications and instructor requirements. It would also provide an opportunity for cadets to fulfil the 4 Star
elective element of the Army Cadets Syllabus in Adventurous Training.
Organised by the Regional Command Cadets Branch AT team and supported by staff from the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training, the
enced ML and aspirant ML along for CPD and giving some redundancy. In addition, a support team of a driver and another ML gave further redundancy and created a firm base from which to resupply the walkers. There were limited opportunities where the overnight stops were reachable by road, but they enabled resupply of rations to limit the weight carried.
It was decided to complete the northern half of the trail, the more challenging and spectacular section, which finished at Vizzavona, from where a train could be taken back to a station half a mile from the firm base, a campsite just outside Calvi, the capital of Corsica. This meant the expedition could be supported by one nine-seater minibus, reducing costs. The team flew into Calvi and a hired minibus was picked up and used to shuttle the team and their equipment to the campsite. Once established there, final briefings and packing was carried out. Then the walkers broke camp early one morning and the support team shuttled the teams to Calenzana, 25 minutes away and the northern end of the GR20. This tiny little mountain village hosts the start of the
on one wall!
By now it had become apparent that one of the main challenges was going to be the heat. The temperature hovered in the mid-30s most of the time but rose to 40°C at some points. Largely due to this, some cadets found the undertaking too difficult, even when relieved of their packs, and slowed down the group considerably, leading to problems with lack of water. Accordingly, one of the MLs walked 6 cadets off on the third day to an extraction point where they were picked up by the support team. Although this was disap- pointing, the teamwork and buddy-buddy help shown by the cadets under these difficult conditions was exemplary and a real learning experience for them.
The remaining two groups were now able to move more efficiently and adopted
an ‘alpine start’
approach to avoid walking in the
32 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER