Page 40 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

Exercise FROSTY CADET
OCdt Boulter
Ex FROSTY CADET
took six OCdts to to to the the highlands of Scotland to to to conduct Winter Mountain Mountain Foundation training This course
builds the the skills from Summer Mountain Mountain Founda- tion tion and and tests them in in more arduous and and techni- cal conditions The team consisted of OCdts: Boulter
(IC) Stringer (2IC) Tomsett Smith Ritchie and Huxtable Throughout the trip we we were pushed and instructed by LCpl Tomkins who had a a a a a pleth- ora of of experience and conducted himself with relaxed professionalism which put the the the team at at ease when battling the the the the the high winds of of of the the the the the Mun- ros At the the the the the start of of the the the the the week we we we we found our best weather where we we we we conducted ice axe arrest and got to grips with our crampons We soon found that that administration and careful packing of kit was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a key skill that that was was easily transferable from our encounters in in in Brecon earlier in in in the the the term able able it it with a a a a a a a a drying room at the the the end of the the the day and thus making it it slightly easier Throughout the trip we we were often placed in scenarios outside of of our usual comfort zones whether that be performing ice axes arrests or or ascending up up steep snowy peaks Signifi- cantly on on day three upon reaching the the peak peak of the the the mountain we had to to make a a a a a a a a a a a a difficult leader- ship decision We decided to to head back as the the conditions and and climbing grade were out of our skill level This is is is akin akin to to a a a a a a a a a Platoon commander making a a a a a a a a a a decision in in in in the the the best interests of safety rather than carry on on on with the the the the mission even if it it was untenable However we we we were rewarded the the the the next day with some of of the the the most exciting yet chal- lenging mountaineering of of the the whole expedition We left that day with a a a a a a a a a warm fuzzy feeling about what we had just achieved All in in in all the team had developed from a a a a a a a fair competence in in in in in in in in hill walking to a a a a a a a a a good proficiency in in in in in in in in in winter mountaineering Looking forward members are looking to to to increase their ‘Qual- ity mountain days’ (QMDs) to to to enable them to to to become Summer Mountain Leaders and deliver training to their prospective units 38 SANDHURST