Page 19 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

The 2 RIFLES Nordic Ski Team somehow managing to skate uphill
2 RIFLES
After a three-hour trek on day one, the expedition wase able to relax at a stunning waterfall
Mount Kenya is one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever visited. If you love nature, and don’t suffer from altitude sickness, you’ll have an amazing experience.
On the first morning of the hike, we were woken up to the smell of a cooked breakfast and fresh coffee - not a bad way to start - and trekked about three hours to a breath-taking waterfall. Swimming around and getting a wash, we enjoyed more views and continued to camp for lunch then a brief climb in the afternoon. Throughout the whole trip we were incredibly lucky with the weather. Another great factor for us was getting to know the local Kenyans on the team, cooking and enjoying their local delicacies as well as their climbing stories. The leader of the trip was telling us how he had climbed Mount Kenya too many times to count. Also, as a Rifleman, it was good to get to know guys from around the Battalion who we may not normally meet. Learning more about each other was one
of the highlights of the trip. During the trek, we kept running into the varied wildlife of Africa, especially within the forested areas. We took the Chogoria Route up the mountain, which was the most charming, as well as invigorating, of the basic courses. This passes astonishing tarns and peers down the sheer rockface into the astounding Gorges Valley,
where our camp was located on the third night facing onto the huge Lake Michaelson. However, we thought the water to be a bit cold for a swim. Overall, we had a fantastic experience. It’s safe to say the 04:00am rouse was well worth it on the last morning as we reached the summit to be exposed to views, we may never come across again.
Rfn Buckley, B Coy, 2 RIFLES
Mount Kenya is one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever visited
Views into the Gorges Valley on the third night of the trek
RIFLES The Bugle 19
Competing in a 4x 7.5km relay, we had to hit targets the size of
a Vaseline tub at 50m between laps from both the prone and standing positions, with additional punishment loops awarded for each target missed
The 2 RIFLES Nordic Ski Team on the range during the 7.5km relay ‘ski and shoot’
MOUNTING MOUNT KENYA