February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:13 Page 14
I
t started with a mam-
moth 23 hour drive to
Mont Blanc, Chamonix where
170 (Infra Sp) Engr Gp accom-
panied by the team mascot
“Cobet Chicken”- participated in
an array of arduous, but thor-
oughly enjoyable, adventurous
training organised by 527 STRE
(Wks). The exercise involved hill
walking, mountain biking,
kayaking and rock climbing.
Team photo at Lake Blank
The exercise was a much needed
break after Op Herrick 9 pre-
deployment training that most of
the lads had participated in. Three
square meals a day were supplied
by our top class chef Cpl Bruce
Barber from 33 Engr Regt (EOD).
The group stayed at a camp site
only a five minute walk from the
town centre which seemed to have
all the facilities we could have
wished for. The town itself was
your typical Alpine town, very pic-
turesque and friendly, where the
team enjoyed the odd crepe and a
couple of beers.
SSgt Pete Coates took the lads
on some exiting walks including
the Bossons Glacier (1895 m),
Lake Emosson (2651 m) to see
the dinosaur footprints, and Lake
Blanc (2300 m). Some of the team
ventured into lake Blanc under
the guidance of WO2 Boris “Irish
Diving Instructor” Metcalfe
where a brief and cold impromp-
tu inter team swimming competi-
tion (the water was a brisk 4°C)
was carried out; the fastest time
was SSgt Fitzy Fitzsimons from
522 STRE (Wks).
The mountain biking was by
far and away one of the most
interesting and enjoyable parts of
the exercise. The teams descended
1000m down Les Houches to St
Gervais, with the run involving a
combination of fast downhill
sections and slow technical
Ex M
14
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