Page 87 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 85
Sat on a chairlift 30 feet off a windswept crag, being rocked by hurricane like winds, stationary for 45 minutes, we began to wonder whether we really did like skiing. As normal, anticipat-
ing a hard days skiing, Captain J Cowie, Major H Fowler, WO2 Mounfeild and Captain A Purbrick had donned only the lightest of warm clothing which meant that when the lift ground to an ominous stop we began to freeze. In fact, none of us were wor- ried. That was at least until a Pisteur appeared through the swirl- ing fog and snow. “Don’t worry!” he shouted. We began to worry.
Luckily the skies cleared and we were treated to an outstanding week of incredible snow and blue skies. White Gauntlet aimed to deliver skiing to the very lowest level – those who had never skied before – and develop the skills of those who skied often. There was an excellent Royal Lancers contingent: Warrant Officer Class I Godfrey, Warrant Officer Class II Godrey, Staff Sergeant Hodge and Staff Sergeant Barrett carved the pistes to shreds with their epic turns whilst Capts Purbrick, Cowie and Major Fowler pursued their extraordinary taste for ‘skiing up- hill’. The mountains can be hostile and we trained each day with avalanche transceivers, probes and practiced our finding, and
The sttep ascent to Le Glacier de Gébroulez
White Gauntlet – Watch this!
Captain Purbrick, Major Fowler, Captain Cowie
We’ve all been there