Page 16 - Cadet Review Spring 2022

Joint Service News
A HIMALAYAN ADVENTURE – PART 2 SUMMER 2012
By Flt Lt Paul Smith RAFVR(T) – Expedition Leader, Himalaya 2012
It’s July, 2012. With support from RFCA Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Yorkshire Cadet Trust, after months of rigorous selection and training
led by Colonel David Fuller’s Training Team, the Expedition members gathered at the Cadet Training Centre at Driffield for the final time before the start of the expedition, for a last-minute check on kit, documents, etc.
The following morning, we departed by coach
for Manchester Airport (I’m still wondering if I should go AWOL before we get there!). We boarded a flight to Doha, where we would change to fly
onto Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. HICCUP – a technical issue with the plane delayed our landing in Doha, forcing a prolonged wait there, so we arrived in Kathmandu nearly 24 hours late, to be greeted
by Roy Francis, our Himalayan guide and mentor, and his team of trusted assistants, who took us via minibuses through darkened streets to our hotel.
Day 2 (or was it Day 3??) saw us shopping in the area local to our hotel for last-minute kit and gear, and then a meal with music and dancing at a local restaurant. The following morning, we climbed aboard our transport to Jiri (this, by the way, was the bus-ride from hell!), where the road ends.
For the next three weeks, we trekked up, and up, and up, and up again (or at least it felt like it!), each day moving on from lodge to lodge, learning to pace ourselves, use the unsophisticated toileting facilities, acclimatising to the weather and the altitude, and
of course the nature and culture of Nepal and the Nepalese.
Here I must pay tribute to Roy Francis and his fantastic Sherpa team who carried our heavy loads, cooked our meals, guided the yaks, and generally looked after us.
As we gained altitude, sadly five of our members became sufficiently unwell to need evacuation by helicopter back to Kathmandu. Fortunately all made swift and full recoveries.
During our journey, we had stunning views of the scenery – deep and steep tree-lined valleys, surging rivers, and of course the snow-covered mountains including Everest, finally arriving nearly three weeks later at Lukla, for the short (and hairy) flight back to Kathmandu.
After a celebratory meal at the renowned Rumdoodle restaurant, the following day we started our uneventful journey back to the UK.
24 out, 24 back – phew!
We are still waiting for some comments and stories from former team members and what they are doing now, nearly 10 years on, so do feel free to let Paul or the Editor know what you are up to!
During our journey, we had stunning views of the scenery – deep and steep tree- lined valleys, surging rivers, and
of course the snow-covered mountains
16 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022
Meeting some of the monks on the route
The expedition team and Directing Staff before departure