Page 24 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

22 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Mount Cavell Challenge
70 People, 7 Days of challenges, 1 Cause
Representing the Defence School of Healthcare Education at Birmingham City University, NN(s) Hannah Phillimore and I (Pte Alison Boyd) embarked on a challenge of a lifetime to Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies on behalf of the Cavell Nurses trust to complete the Mount Cavell Challenge...70 People, 7 Days of challenges, 1 Cause.
Within just a week we had scaled rock faces, walked the famous glacier ice fields and white water rafted the Athabasca River, all before starting the grueling 17 hours climb up Mount Edith Cavell, a peak larger than the UK three Peaks combined.
The mental aspect of the challenge started the evening before when we were briefed by our two guides about the dangers of the mountain and advised to prepare our kit, sleep and be ready to leave at 0300 the following morning. After a night of nerves, excitement and not a great amount of sleep, we woke raring to go at 0200 filled with the same feelings of anxiety but overall very enthusiastic.
At around 0340, our team of 8 set off into the darkness of the woods armed with our head torches and a welcomed sense of naivety of the physical challenge ahead. Tackling streams, fallen trees, dense woodland and signs that grizzly bears were in the area, we followed our guides for 3 hours until we reached the base of the mountain.
After crossing a rocky basin which leads into a steep scree slope, we were faced with a more technical climb in order to gain the ridge. Loose rock under foot and several rock slides pushed the team both mentally and physically. After experiencing a number of very close calls, a guide and I were separated from the group for a short time and it was at this point that my fear became almost tangible but with a strong mind and a supportive team, we made it to
the ridge just minutes after they had. Faced with the sheer exposure of the summit, tiredness and the completion of an already huge achievement, we were forced to split and only four of us continued.
With the summit in sight, but a deceiving two hours hike away, the real journey began. Traversing round the side of the summit provided different dangers and although roped in, sheer drops, snow ledges and unpredictable surfaces meant that the rope offered little comfort. Just an hour later, we were nearly there. The only thing between us and the summit was a 100m ridge and despite it only being 10cm wide, nothing was stopping us now....other than Paul, our remaining guide, who deemed it an appropriate place for a team photo.
At last...1 Army student nurse, 1 Royal Navy student nurse and the RCN boys Stu and Lew had done it! 3,363 meters! Celebrating with a group hug, chest bump and a bag of peanut M&M’s we were elated and emotional but still only half way there. With spirits high, the decent was upon us and it was here that we really experienced the unforgiving nature of the mountain, exhaustion but ultimately pure grit and determination. The final decent now holds happy memories of warning off bears with chants and laughter and being welcomed back to the hotel with a staanding ovation and a round of applause.
I have raised £2,400 so far towards my target but still have a long way to go and will continue to raise funds through other climbs, bake sales and Christmas activities. If you would like to show your support then please visit www.justgiving.com/ali-boyd
Pte Alison Boyd DHSE