Page 145 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Exercise Harz

Key Bavaria Mountains

By Private Jonathan Allport By Second Lieutenant Ben Ramsden

The Exercise was a five day Adventure Training package which The aim of this event was to build team
consisted of Rock climbing, mountain biking and hill walking cohesion and bond as a group whilst in

located within different regions of Bavaria. a more challenging environment.

On our Way The Long Road Ahead mountaineering and half mountain biking. The mountain
biking group sped through the tracks and trails of the
We arrived at the Drei Muhlen Lodge in the evening of Members of 30 Army Education Centre Group set out on a Sonnenberg region, stopping occasionally to appreciate
Saturday 30th June ready for our first activity the following 14 hour drive to the Harz Mountains in Germany for a week the incredible views of the wooded valleys and peaks. The

day. The Lodge consisted of bedrooms with a kitchen of mountaineering and mountain-biking. The journey mountaineering groups, led by Amanda Willcox-Jones and
and dining area. We had our tea cooked every night from was long and mainly to the sound of ‘The Best of the 80’s’. myself, similarly ascended and descended the tracks and
chefs, which I didn’t complain about as their cooking was I awoke face pressed against the window, to the sight of trails of the Sonnenberg region, discovering a wide variety
better than mine. Germanic forests, mist spilling out of the trees. The gloomy of flora, fauna, and remnants of the Harz’ industrial past.

depths of the forest around the vehicle had an ethereal
Rock Climbing presence, hiding flora and fauna and possibly the remains Mittelbau-Dora

of Varus’ legions. The week ahead looked to be an exciting,
Rock climbing took place in the hills of Ziegenwies in yet challenging experience. On our return from our Germanic excursion we stopped at
Füssen. After going through all the rope safety drills it the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp. Amid the bleak
was time to climb; the wall was around 30 metres high Brocken remnants the group reflected upon the birthplace of the V-2

and had three different routes, each with their own views Rock rocket and the justification the Nazis used to commit their

of the surrounding lakes and castles. After climbing it climbing The week began with the entire group, of 11 members, inhumane acts. We were given a guided tour of the cave
was time to abseil. The drop was about 50 metres, and trekking up the Brocken, the highest peak in the region, a system used to manufacture the V-2 rocket parts and were
as I don’t like heights this was not great for me. I made hotspot for witching and the inspiration for Goethe’s Faust. shown the caves where thousands of forced labourers were
the mistake of looking down when I was right at the The day began in the sweltering heat alongside the lakes put to work.
start of my descent, which made the relief even stronger and streams of the forest. As we walked past the glades and
when I finally got to the ground. Before we went back brooks, we encountered an abundance of wild blueberry The Return Journey

to the lodge we had time to go to and visit the beautiful bushes and forest sorrel. On the peak, Henry Watts and I
Neuschwanstein Castle, which stands on a hill above the gave a presentation on the history of the region ranging Passing through Paderborn on our return home, the group
town of Hohenschwangau. from antiquity to the Cold War. decided to stop at 41 Army Education Centre for a visit and
to explore Paderborn itself. It was a good opportunity
Mountain Biking The Activities to build closer bonds with our colleagues in Germany.
Following this, we jumped back onto the transport and
This was the most physically demanding activity, 25 For the rest of the week, the group was split, with half headed home to a warm, but welcoming, England.
miles of very hilly German countryside. We rode through
various small villages and experienced some beautiful
scenery before stopping at a lake. As it was the middle of
the summer, it was only right that we got in the water. It
wasn’t as warm as it looked, but it was good to cool down. Mountain
biking
Hill Walking
The final activity was hill walking near the town of

Hohenschwangau, which is also the name of the castle
we visited on this day. This was the most relaxed activity,
taking in views from the top of hills and the edge of lakes.
We got back to the lodge in plenty of time to see England
knock Colombia out of the World Cup on penalties.
Endnote

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I
could integrate with soldiers from the Regiment that
I wouldn’t normally mix with. I had chance to try out
various activities that I would not normally choose. The
activities, instructors and facilities were all fantastic, and
the location was excellent, especially as it was the middle Neuschwanstein Castle,
Hohenschwangau
of the summer.

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