Page 126 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018
In the rapids

Exercise

Northern Poseidon

By Corporal Kirsty McKissock

Exercise Northern Poseidon 18 was a twelve day,
distributed training, white water kayaking expedition.

Slovenia drills, which had been taught over a series of foundation
courses run in Scotland. It is safe to say that everyone
Fifteen personnel from 110 Provost Company and thoroughly enjoyed getting back in a boat and getting
1 Regiment Royal Military Police deployed to the on the water. I hadn’t been in a kayak for over a year
picturesque Soca Valley in Slovenia to take part in the and really needed the practice before tackling the
expedition along with three instructors. When this turbulent and treacherous rapids of Soca Valley. A lot of

expedition was first arranged, it was designed to take the day was spent preparing for the river ensuring that
participants out of their comfort zone and introduce everybody could attempt to self rescue and at the very
them to an environment that was challenging, both least could assist rescuing others. These turned out to be
mentally and physically. I can say that in no uncertain key skills that we used a lot throughout the expedition. Progressing past their comfort zone and being challenged in getting

terms that this certainly did happen. through some difficult rapids. Hats off to two of our team
Evenings Over the next few days, we visited various parts of who were the only members who managed to conquer
Soca Valley Soca River, focussing on the calmer waters around our the gorge on the penultimate day without taking a swim.
Evenings turned out to be very relaxed, which seemed accommodation which was easy grade 1 / 2 water. The Another member of the team made it all the way through
On arrival at Ljubljana airport we were met by our to be a way of life in the valley. We would cover lessons team progressed fast and the instructors were keen the gorge, but unfortunately from outside of her boat.
colleagues from Sennelager and then travelled into Soca about river hazards and grades whilst the duty students to move onto bigger water. We were then introduced

Valley to our accommodation above the Prijon Sports would prepare a meal for all 18 people. Cooking for such to more complicated rapids such as the affectionately Fantastic Introduction
Centre. The accommodation was comfortable and a large number turned out to be a huge challenge when named ‘Chaos 1’ and the main feature of the river being

ideally placed right by the river Soca where we were due working with only four hobs, but we managed to pull it a deep gorge that the river flowed through Over the next This was the best adventure training package I have ever
to train in a few days time. off each day and make some interesting meals. few days we hit the more advanced water, that’s when

things really started to fall into place and the instructors been part of. It was a fantastic introduction to white
Lago del-Predi Second Day pushed us towards leading rapids and making it our water and the kayaking world. It was astonishing how
friendly the paddling community was and how small a
responsibility to get the group down safely. This was a community it is. Throughout the exercise it was key that
On day one the team travelled to Lago del-Predil, in Italy. On the second day we continued to practice rescue skills real challenge and made us think about group safety and we saw through the madness around us and applied

The lake is your typical picturesque, calm, and serene before finally getting onto the river. We split into five pick routes that everybody would be able to get down. the lessons we’d been taught back in Scotland. We were
lake. What makes it unique is the vibrant turquoise person teams under one instructor and set off. After the It also made us think about where we should put in exposed to a high level of risk but at no point did we ever

colour that comes from the glacial melt that is filtered very first rapid about 150 metres from the start barely safety measures by getting people out of their boats with feel overly out of our depth or as if that risk wasn’t being
through the rocks in the Julian Alps. During this time, half of the group were still in their boats. It soon became rescue lines ready to assist. managed. Having that opportunity to try something
everyone went back to basics, going over the skills and clear why we’d been practicing rescue skills.

Comfort Zone totally different, and in an amazing country, was an
added bonus. The experiences we have all taken away,

The teaching proved to be impeccable from all the are thanks to the hard work and effort of the organisers
instructors and everyone was pushed well and truly and instructors.

The Northern
Practising Poseiden
rolling team at the
techniques Soca River

The advanced
team

126 127