Page 14 - LBV 2023

Ex BLUE CHAMONIX
Unlike any AT on offer in the UK,
all officer cadets were given the opportunity to experience Via Ferrata, mostly for the first time. Although this does not include progression towards a qualification it did not disappoint. The views were stunning, the experience unlike any other, and both the skills and personal discipline learned are transferrable to plenty of other outdoor pursuits, especially climbing. All of us were pushed outside of our comfort zone and expanded our understanding of our own physical and mental limits.
The group had a large range of climbing experience, with several cadets already holding qualifications and working towards becoming supervisors. As well as this, climbing had the largest turn over of cadets, with new members every day. Therefore, the climbers went to Le Fayet which provided a range of climbs including a small beginners crag and challenging 5C overhang.
Each group quickly picked up the figure of eight rethread and the stopper knots as well as learning to belay. After this, we were ready to climb.
Whether overcoming an extreme fear
of heights by simply getting on the wall to speed climbing the more challenging routes, everyone found challenge in climbing. Furthermore, it forces trust in other members of the team, especially when several of us had only just learned how to belay and were being partially blinded by the dazzling French sun.
The importance of height and weight differences in belay pairs also ensured that cadets thought out their climbing orders and considered who might need an anchor when belaying. Its always fun to watch a smaller belayer get tied to
a nearby rock, or alternatively fly a few inches off the ground when their climber slips.
The trekking group took the train to Argentiere and began a gentle route aimed to allow a reintroduction to higher altitude hiking, choosing the path that wound gradually up out of the valley. However, the ambition and positive attitude of the group meant that the cadets and staff agreed to push up and bag not one, but two peaks less than 24 hours into the stay in Chamonix. Once we reached the first summit, there was
a path of ladders up the rockface – not
dissimilar to via ferrata – that lead another 200m up to the second peak. After several long days of travelling,
this leg stretch was challenging but extremely rewarding, both in scenery and quality mountain days.
The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in France, over 7km long and 200m deep. For this trek, rather than getting the train, we set off straight from camp, staring at the side of the valley knowing that the glacier was on the other side of the peak we were looking up at. After
a short detour around the fallen trees,
we began the ascent, zigzagging up the mountain for 4 hours – with a short break in the middle at an isolated café with great views and even better milk shakes. Once we reached the Mer de Glace, there was then a 430-step staircase descent to enter the glacier itself. As
the glacier continues to melt this set of stairs grows, with thought-provoking dated signposts displaying the rate of the melt. Once inside the glacier, there were ice sculptures, such as a fully carved
ice bar and two thrones. An incredible experience and definitely a brilliant way to top of a week of great treks.
14 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER