September 22, 2016
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Adventurous Army Cadets from Forres travelled to Bavaria to take part in outdoor pursuits.
Cadet Corporals Duncan Kelly (18) and Saffron Cook (18) from Forres Detachment, 1st Battalion the Highlanders, took part in adventure training in Germany from 6-13 August.
The week-long multi-activity package, organised by the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training, saw cadets aged from 15-18 taking part in mountain trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering and white water canoeing.
The package was designed to give cadets a taster of Adventurous Training and encourage participation onto the centre’s other courses that can lead to recognised qualifications.
Upon Saffron and Duncan’s arrival at Sonthofen near the Bavarian Alps they – and their group of 40 from various UK Army Cadet and Combined Cadet Forces – were then split into five groups of eight.
The whole course cost them only £100, including transport, accommodation and equipment hire, which was one of the reasons Cpl Kelly applied for the package.
He said: “If I were planning this for a holiday I would be at least £100 for travelling and this is before I even planned what I wanted to do!”
Each day presented a different activity for each group.
Cpl Cook said she enjoyed climbing the most.
She said: “I was told that I had a knack for it and was advised to continue after I return, which I intend to.”
For Cpl Kelly his favourite activity was canyoneering, which is jumping into a fast-flowing mountain stream and allowing yourself to be carried downstream at speed.
He said: “It was basically a real-life flume from a waterpark. Although the water was cold when we jumped in, because we were wearing wetsuits we soon warmed up.”
This was both cadets’ final ACF activity, as since returning they both have left the battalion to attend university.
Before her last night in Forres Saffron said: “My only regret is that I did not do CCAT courses sooner as it was a most enjoyable experience and I cannot express this enough.
“I just hope I have encouraged other cadets to apply for these courses and hopefully gain qualifications in Adventure Training.”
Cpl Cook (left) during her white water canoeing experience.
Cpl Kelly has a go at rock climbing.
