Page 56 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Exercise
WANDERING
CADET
OCdt Levi Gray
Ex WANDERING CADET compromised six OCdts on the Summer Mountaineering Foundation Course in the Lake District.
One might call that a rather brave choice for mid-December but hardened by our time spent in Brecon on Ex ALLENBY’S ADVANCE, we packed plenty of warm layers and made the long drive up from Sandhurst to our home for the next week. The Old School was in the quiet village of Wythop Mill and we were delighted with our new FOB! We met our instructor, Sgt Hyde, who had stepped in after our original instructor was sadly unable to join us after a nasty mountain biking accident! Our plan was to tackle five classic Lake District days whilst avoiding the snow and com- pleting the SMF course. Our first lesson from Sgt Hyde was about the importance of creating the correct AT culture that blended challenge with pragmatism and in this instance entailed the fol- lowing motto - ‘The summit is optional’.
Though we were successful in completing our five days in the Lakes as planned, this was an
important reminder that there is more to AT than the physical objective. We had to understand striking the right balance in terms of risk and group management and how to mitigate against sudden or unexpected changes in weather or environment. Taking on Helvellyn via some great scrambling on Striding Edge was a memorable experience, as was all six of us squeezing in to test out the robustness of the group shelter!
When I was planning the expedition, I was mind- ful of the importance of having some moments of reflection after a busy Intermediate Term, and where better than at the country’s highest War Memorial on Scafell Pike? There was also a War Memorial at the summit of Great Gable, which was a perfect way to end our trip. It was a won- derful week of mountaineering (and perhaps a few cream teas!). Many thanks to The Sandhurst Trust for supporting our adventure!
54 SANDHURST