Exercise Northern Wanderer conducted by Tayforth University
Officer Training Corps (UOTC) was both ambitious and challenging in scale and
scope. The exercise took place above Rjukan in the Telemark region of Norway
over the period 3rd January to 10th February 2011 and drew
Officer Cadets from St Andrews, Dundee, Stirling and Abertay Universities. Two
separate packages of 17 and 18 days provided consolidated instruction for a
total of 75 personnel. According to adventurous training experts, it has been
many years since such a range of activities has taken place over such a
duration. The exercise was an unqualified success with all of the aims being
achieved. The participants overcame difficult challenges, had fun, and most
importantly returned home safely.
The aim of the exercise was to promote leadership skills and
individual development through a varied programme of Alpine, Nordic and Ski
Touring in an arduous environment. This stretched the students both physically
and mentally. The ski touring element of the exercise was carried out on the
Hardangervidda Plateau, an area renowned for Antarctic and Arctic training of
this sort. The area was also made famous by the ‘Heroes of Telemark’ through
their exploits in a second world war sabotage operation against the heavy water
factory at Vemork and this provided an excellent opportunity to introduce a
military theme to the trip which widened appreciation of both the history of the
area and the nature of skiing that we practiced. At the most basic level, the
intention was that every student would have the opportunity to gain a basic or
advanced proficiency award in each of the ski disciplines as part of the Joint
Services Adventure Training Scheme.
The first half of each package comprised a rotation of Alpine
and Nordic instruction that was aimed at developing the necessary skills of
navigation, teamwork, survival and control on the skis to prepare students for
the ski tour. These early stages were memorable for all, particularly those who
had never put on a pair of skis before or built a snow hole. There were many
falls; some spectacular, some hair-raising, and many quite hilarious! The Nordic
Proficiency courses culminated with an individual night race around a 5
kilometre circuit and with a group patrol race around a more extensive course
with checkpoints along the way that tested observation, knowledge and how to
deal with a casualty. Both events proved to be highly competitive.
The latter part of each package further prepared the students
for the ski tour which was to come in the final week. Several days of shorter
ventures were conducted within the surrounding area, followed by instruction on
planning and leading such activities. Differing snow and weather conditions
throughout the stay led to changing the planned tours. The Hardangervidda
Plateau was unusually bereft of snow for this time of year, and fairly
wind-scoured. The threat of strong winds, the most dangerous element, was ever
present. However, each group completed a mix of longer, overnight and shorter
more technical tours carrying loads upwards of 20kg, sometimes in extreme
weather conditions. Some of the groups were very pleasantly surprised by the
homely nature of the accommodation to be found on the Plateau, courtesy of the
Norwegian Tourist Hut (DNT) system, especially after a 17km uphill approach ski!
Each package held a Burn’s Supper, which drew healthy
attendance from local Norwegian and Danish ski staff, dignitaries and
newspapers. The Tayforth UOTC Pipes and Drums Band played at the second function
on 25th January and the standard of music, speeches and poetry was
high indeed, proving extremely popular and memorable for all. The meal was also
a welcome break from the daily domestic routine back at the kitchen where all
the groups would come together in the evening to share their experiences for the
day and take it in turns to try and make a meal far superior to the one the
night before - theory and practice proved to be very different! Each package
concluded with a superb meal and social evening; marking the end of a once in a
lifetime trip that the officer cadets and staff will surely never forget. The
dinners included awards for various achievements of the trip, ranging from most
improved skiers to the wooden spoon award, as well as a party afterwards which
proved why dancing should be restricted to the under 30s!
Apart from the physical and mental challenges faced during the
activities, the most perplexing problems to overcome were cost, administration
and logistics. To make the trip affordable Tayforth UOTC is especially grateful
to various benefactors including The Ulysses Trust, without whom it is unlikely
the trip would have succeeded. The 3 day road trip either side of the skiing
with 2 overnight ferry crossings, far too much fast food, navigational
embarrassments and journeying through 5 European countries (planned, not
accidental!) required incredible patience and stamina! We were also lucky to
have been loaned ski equipment from the pool at Bicester, which saved us a
fortune in Norway. The small administrative team were the real stalwarts of the
trip, continuously working hard for 39 days.
The bias towards racing, competitions and touring was
successful and the consolidated period of instruction was so much better than
the usual week’s dash to the Alps. Programme fillers comprising of igloo
building, practical chinese puzzles, command tasks, axe-throwing, film nights,
games nights and lectures about the sabotage operation against the heavy water
plant rounded each package off nicely.
Overall the trip was a huge success and the enthusiasm of
everybody involved was good to see. Much was learned all round from the
fantastic team of experienced instructors and staff on the trip; each with a
wealth of experience in both skiing and service life, which they aptly
demonstrated on the slopes, tracks and fjells during the day; in the evening
lectures; and, of course, in the bar at night. As a result, every officer cadet
on the trip passed the practical tests and written exams to gain basic or
advanced proficiency awards and most enjoyed a tour on the Plateau.
Thanks to
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