Page 75 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022 CREST

the top may have been stunning, yet we will never know, with the thick cloud fully obscuring the summit. When the team eventually returned to the car that afternoon, they had walked over 17km, reached an elevation of 975m and burned an estimated million calories. On the way back, the group decided to scout out the local town of Callander for a coffee and were greatly sur- prised at the friendliness of the locals. The even- ing’s activities included a nervous foray into the metropolis of Arrochar to explore the town and have a look around. Again, the locals were very welcoming – nothing like the treatment the group were used to back at RMAS. By the end of the day, they had travelled over 25km.
On the third day, Ben Vane, a formidable oppo- nent, was vanquished with little resistance. They started early, and after driving to the base of the mountain, OCdt Walsh assumed command, before heroically handing over to OCdt Macrae, our native Scot, about halfway up. After a 2km walk to the bottom of Ben Vane, he found a clear indicator of the route (a stone path) and started to ascend. After three hours and seven false peaks, they eventually reached the summit. This time the view that greeted them was one of unfiltered beauty. At 916m it wasn’t the highest peak they reached, but what it lacked in height it made up for in Instagram-worthy backdrops. After a quick lunch near the summit (under the watchful eye of Sgt Bentham), they headed back down. The team even had enough energy left for a swim in the dark watery mass of Loch Lomond to cool off.
On the penultimate day, OCdt Taylor led the team up the famous Ben Lui. Riding a high of energy drinks and overconfidence, the team broke track and tackled the hill head on. The knee-deep sod- den grass and dizzying gradient made the going tough, but the team trudged on and up into the
misty heights. They reached 1130m in just over three hours. Sadly, the weather turned against them once again, and their sweat (but no tears or blood) was rewarded with a disappointingly grey peak. However, the journey home provided the most stunning vistas yet. The mountain rolled down into a saddle, opening up into a lushy val- ley cradled by colossal rock faces, pierced by icy streams. The hill tumbled down into a boggy forest, where the lads were able to cool their feet in a babbling brook under the bemused gaze of some tourists. The bright lights of Arrochar wel- comed them home with some well-earned pizza and another round of Big Juices (the local lager of choice). The distance covered was 12km in total on the hill, and 20km overall on the day.
Finally, the home stretch beckoned. With weary legs and bleary heads, the group saved the hike on their doorstep, the best until last. We crossed the line of departure at 0800hrs by venturing out of the front door, with OCdt Smith leading on the navigation. 300m up the road, the ascent up Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime commenced. The walk was a delightfully simple affair, with a stone path for most of the way. At around 800m elevation and in thick fog they were met by a craggy group of rocks, so stark that Tenzing Norgay himself would have turned back. But not this group of plucky OCdts. Quickly scram- bling up the rocks, they made it up the remain- ing 211 metres to the summit. At the top they could barely see their hands in front of them but stopped for a celebratory toast to the beautiful hills they had vanquished, nonetheless. Casu- ally bagging Beinn Ime on the way back down, the team trudged back into Arrochar for the final time. Some well-deserved celebrations at the local Bothy Inn were in order, followed by the welcoming warm embrace of their beds, with the expedition going their separate ways the next morning.
Scotland proved to be a land of formidable beauty and lifelong memories. The group were unani- mous in agreeing that their trip had been both a true challenge and a test of their characters, changing them into more confident leaders and giving them a welcome break from the breath- lessness of camp life. Improving their capabilities in navigation, fitness, and leadership, they can look back at their expedition as a resounding success, thanks in part to the leadership of their exped leader OCdt Taylor and the hard work and dedication of his 2IC, OCdt Humphries.
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