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16th January 2007

Adventure at Altitude

On 12th January AWO Taylor, CWO Otulakowski, and FS Russell set off for a weekend of adventure and learning at the Air Cadet Training Centre, Windermere in the Lake District.

The weekend, organised by Flight Lieutenant Burnham, the Wing Adventure Training Technical Officer (WATTO), who is in charge of Adventure Training camps to Windermere in the Lake District and Llanbedr in Wales, was designed for staff and instructor cadets to experience some hill walking.

The Saturday began with an early start at 6:30am, with a hearty breakfast for energy at 7am, and a departure for Helm Crag at 9am. The first appointed navigator for the day was CWO Otulakowski, who guided the team for the first few kilometres out of the town of Grasmere, and into the valley beneath the summit of Helm Crag, known to the locals as the ‘Lion and the Lamb’ because of the shape of the rocks on the crag.

Once in the valley, it was clear that the weather was determinedly against the walkers, with high winds making rain fall horizontally, and making the ground underneath slippery. By the time that the walkers had reached the ridge, it was clear that, with the weather bad and deteriorating, they would be unable to reach their target of the lion and lamb rock formation.

After re-evaluating the route, the team set off down into the next valley, and headed quickly back to Grasmere to finish the route, and return to the training centre. Where, after another filling meal, the next day’s route, Loughrig Fell, was detailed.

Sunday morning, then, began with another 6:30am reveille, and a satisfying breakfast, before the group departed for one of the more challenging hills in the Lake District. Though the conditions were significantly preferable to Saturday, the walkers were still met by their fair share of rain and wind. After an enjoyable ascent, the group decided to make a quick descent via Loughrig Terrace, back to their vehicles, a warm meal in Ambleside, and the long journey back to Bedfordshire.

The two days of walking were both enjoyable and educational, Cadet Warrant Officer Otulakowski commented, ‘This weekend was a lot of fun, while providing some challenges, and plenty of learning points to take back to the unit. I would recommend the week long course that is open to cadets highly.’