Page 144 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

The mist starts to settle in the heights of the Lake District
The advanced hill walkers reaching phenomenal heights
Wet, windy and worn out walkers
Sjt Brydon at a very windy trig point
Cpl Slater slate spotting
Adventurous Training
The band had many activities going on for our adventurous training week. We had skiers, sailors, and hill walkers.
EXERCISE LAKELAND TIGER –
Hill Walking in Ambleside, Lake District
The group of hill walkers were split into three matter what group we were in, and some members
...BUT THEN IN THE DISTANCE WE SAW A BUNCH OF FIGURES WALKING DOWN THIS DIRT PATH. IT WAS THEM!!
groups, based on their individual experience. The more experienced group went higher into the hills and mountains. The areas that the groups covered cumulatively were Dove Cragg, Great Rigg, Heron Pike, High Pike, Catbells, Helvellyn, Bowfell, Broad Cragg, Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags, Esk Pike and Scafell Pike, sometimes reaching heights of 900m. At this height the weather conditions became more extreme, it even snowed a bit for them! The terrain was more arduous and almost became a rock climbing exercise at one point. Some members from this group also gained their Summer Mountain Foundation qualification, which will then enable them to assist MLT`s on expeditions. Despite the weather, they all managed to keep smiles on their faces.
The other two groups were set different routes around the Lake District, and we each had our own Mountain Leader Trainer. At various points along the route, we were asked to find our exact location on a map, and also had to navigate, in turn, parts of the route. The routes were physically demanding no
even made new purchases of walking poles, myself included. Even though this exercise was physically and mentally demanding, it was enjoyable.
The final day was the hardest of all, especially for the drivers. Our drop off point to start was high into the hills of the Lake District. My driving abilities were tested to the max as the roads became narrower, steeper, and wetter. Trying to traverse a minibus through such an environment was almost impos- sible with the amount of hairpin bends there were! One mistake would have seen us down a sheer drop into nothingness, but with my skills, and occasional guidance from an advanced off road driver in the passenger seat, (also one of our MLT`s) our journey became a lesson in something similar to the World Rallycross Championships!
After a few hours of hill walking, two out of three groups had returned to our rendezvous point at a lovely restaurant, enjoying some well-earned light refreshment. Where was the final group? We couldn’t make communications with them! OH NO!
142 THE BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES
THE RIFLES