Page 154 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Exercise

Lions Hike

By Sergeant Vicky Campbell

Exercise Lions Hike was a 48 we all really enjoyed the whole day as you
hour, level two hill walking will see from the following testimonials
of Corporal Felix Chombe and Corporal
(grappling) exercise in Nelson Ayuketang.
North Wales conducted by
eight members of 16 Signal Sights
Regiment and two members Half way to the top we took a short break
of the 11 Signal Brigade SPS at a place called the cannon. This allowed
staff. time for a picture and to take in the
scenery. However, minutes later we were
distracted by the low flying Royal Air Force
Aim training fighting jet. It was a beautiful
scene as you could see how low, fast and
The aim of the exercise was to build strong close to you the jets were. At one moment
team cohesion within the detachment, but I thought the trainees were showing off as
also to enhance physical fitness and to they saw us trying to take video, and I am
get individuals out of their comfort zone. sure I could see his dog tags. We completed
Captain Iain Scott was the lead instructor the ascent and descent of the first ridge in
for the exercise and ensured that everyone Jade Rees full of morale just over three hours. At this point morale
experienced a little time out of their was high and with the weather looking
comfort zone. name:‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychw good, thoughts were now turning to what
yrndrobwillantysiliogogogoch’ meaning we could get up to with all this free time
‘The church of Mary in the hollow of the we had on our hands. Low and behold, the
white hazel near the fierce whirlpool and
the church of tysilio by the red cave’. On
arrival at the Joint Services Mountain
Training Centre (Indefatigable) it became
apparent that Captain Iain Scott had been
there before as he knew everyone. That
evening he gave us all a brief on Tryfan
which was the hill we would be climbing
which left the majority of the detachment
feeling rather anxious about what was to
The team at the start line ready to take on the hills. follow the next day. It looked more vertical
Left to right: Rocky O’Sullivan, Vicky Campbell, Jade Rees, than horizontal. On the descent and smiles all round. Left to right: Rocky
Makenzi Ross, Felix Chombe, Iain Scott, Alec Carpenter, O’Sullivan, Makenzi Ross, John Hadzor, Iain Scott, Felix
Nelson Ayuketang and John Hadzor Chombe, Vicky Campbell, Nelson Ayuketang and Jade Rees
Tryfan
Pre-Hill Walking
The following morning we all met after powers that be had other plans. “We have
We departed from Beacon Barracks in breakfast to move forward to our start enough time and the weather is good, I
Stafford on Tuesday 24th of May while the point. On seeing the initial climb, which think we can go up that second ridge and
Regimental Officers were all out of station looked rocky and a little challenging in back down before the end of the day”,
on a Corps Dinner Night so we could get itself, the group started to feel slightly these words still haunt me till this day.
most of the detachment involved without nervous, but excited for the day ahead;
too much controversy for the Regiment. We after all, it was a day out of the office. The Hills Continued
arrived in the beautiful town of Llanfair With the support of the more experienced
with scorching temperatures in the mid- personnel within the group, everyone’s Just about an hour into the second ascent
twenties. This is the town with the longest confidence grew throughout the day and visibility changed making it a bit difficult

154

*2016 J Layout.indd 154 10/01/2017 15:45