Training

Training and selection

The training and selection process for an Expedition like this takes years! The process for this Expedition began back in 2006 when we advertised the trip in a special notice called a DIN.

After allowing a few months for people to apply we ran a selection weekend at the Joint Services’ Mountain Training Centre Indefatigable, on Anglesey. At the weekend, we interviewed literally hundreds of applicants and had the unenviable task of drawing up shortlists of those who would form the Squads from which we would select the final teams. In the Forces, it is vital that we have a large pool to draw from, as the high operational tempo now days undoubtedly means that not everyone is available to take part in the Expedition. The fact that we have used almost all of our Reserves is testament to that fact.

The initial training weekend took place in the Lake District and was an opportunity for all of the people to get to know each other. With personnel drawn from across all 3 Services, it is quite important to break down some of the ‘single-service’ barriers!

Scotland – January 2007

A week in Scotland allowed us to see everyone apply the basic skills of snow craft and security on steep ground. Even though many of the Makalu Teams had impressive mountaineering CVs, we had to satisfy ourselves that everyone was as competent as they said they were! So, ice axe arrests, snow shelters and basic crampon techniques were practised.

We also used the opportunity to practice fixing rope, a skill required on Hilayan expeditions to make repeated travel over steep ground for load-carrying as safe as possible. A variety of anchors can be used for fixing rope such as snow stakes, ‘dead men’ (which are snow anchors), ice screws, rock pitons or pegs and chocks that fit into cracks in the rock.

Knowledge of snow-types and avalanche rescue is also a key skill along with the use of avalanche trancievers, so some time was spent on that as well.

Wales, Ripon & Lakes- Summer Weekend Meets

A number of weekends throughout the Summer, allowed us to carry out the initial selection for the Junior Team members, as well as consolidation of some basic skill sets. The Ripon weekend saw us conduct some fitness coaching, which included an ‘open water’ swim in the Ripon Race Course Lake at 6 o’clock in the morning! All of these meets allowed the Makalu and HADT Teams to focus on their own objectives while the Junior Team were introduced to basic navigation, rock climbing and basic camp craft. 

  
 

 

 

Alps– Summer2007

August/September saw us decamp to Zermatt in Switzerland for the 2-week culmination of out training. While the Junior Team were given an introduction to Alpine Mountaineering and notched up an impressive tally of 4000m peaks, the HADT and Makalu Teams put themselves through their paces in order that the Team Leaders could assess how fit the perspective climbers were before making final team selection decisions. Although very cold, we were blessed with some clear weather for most of the fortnight and achieved a great deal. We were joined by Alan Hinkes OBE and Steve Heartland for our Alpine training

November 2007 – North Wales

By November, the final squads had been announced and the weekend allowed the team leaders to speak to their teams proper! Additionally, our Sports Scientists from Winchester and Portsmouth were able to do some final work with us (see Science Section) and we were able to do some final coordination on issues such as equipment and finance.

 

 

 

 

 

January 2008 – Scotland

Our final training foray was to a wild, windy and snowy Tulloch, in the Central Highlands. The fierce weather provided an excellent opportunity to pit ourselves against some conditions, which will not be too dissimilar to those we will face in the Himalayas!

Note

Putting training events like these together is no walk over. Each event has to be organised and authorised in order that the training can be conducted safely. For training Switzerland we have to obtain diplomatic clearance and get everyone there and back! For training in Scotland, we have to seek permission from all of the landowners and where ever we go, we need somewhere to sleep and something to eat. All of this has to be organised, it doesn’t just happen by itself!

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