Training Regional Command, and Diversity and Inclusion Adviser Scotland

Most memorable expedition?

Climbing Kilimanjaro, which we did over eight days – five days' gradual climb to acclimatise, one day’s final steep ascent and two days of rapid descent to avoid altitude sickness. The last kilometre along the ridge was literally one step in front of the other but being at the top (pictured – Gilly on left) was amazing. Our heads were swimming with the altitude, exertion and euphoria.

Tips for firsttime expeditioners?

Try to get your map-reading skills as good as they can be before you go. Apps like Ordnance Survey are great but, if your phone battery runs out or there’s no signal, you still need to know where you're going. Have the right maps to cover the whole of your exped (I like 1:25,000 best for walking). Have a compass and know the basics of using it and study the map beforehand to get a feel for the route and terrain.

What kit do you always pack?

A different pair of footwear for evenings in the camp (usually trainers or Crocs) to give my feet a breather. One of my personal luxuries is my map case, where I keep my maps and compass. It has a pocket for a pencil, emergency whistle and magnifying glass.

Good expedition games?

A good one that helps everyone get to know each other is to ask each person to show the latest photo on their phone and reveal to the group why it’s important to them.

Your perfect exped snack?

A trail mix created from a packet of mixed fruit with cranberries and apricot to which I add some mixed nuts and seeds. I try to avoid snacks with artificial sugars if I can, and this one provides lots of energy.

Liz Green, SO2 DofE

Memorable trips?

I did my Gold DofE when I was 17. I was an Air Cadet and we did it in the Cairngorms over four days. It was a circular route and the sense of isolation was amazing. We saw lots of deer and birds of prey, and had a great team and – most importantly – good food at the end of each day (especially puddings), which kept us going!

On one of the days, we met another group with an injured person. We helped them to get a helicopter to airlift them off the mountain. It was terrible for them but exciting for us to be involved.

Tips for firsttime expeditioners?

Aim to get into your sleeping bag dry and to keep any wet gear out of the way; you’ll be so grateful for a warm bed. Also know how to cook a meal you’re going to enjoy.

The most important thing of all, however, is to know what to do when something does go wrong – whether that’s a blister or a broken shoelace or something more serious like an injury or getting lost. You need to understand what you can deal with yourself and when to ask for help.

Lt

Col Richard Phillips, Deputy Commandant Kent ACF

Memorable expeditions?

One was a solo trip following the Chemin de la Liberté (Freedom Trail), a five-day mountainous trek across the central Pyrenees from France into northern Spain. It was the route used by prisoners of war escaping to neutral Spain from German-occupied Europe during the Second World War. I saw very few people on the route, so maintaining my own safety was very important.

The second was an expedition during a half-term in 2018 when I took my two daughters (then aged 12 and 14) on a self-guided trek traversing Hadrian’s Wall (pictured) from Newcastle to Carlisle. It was fantastic to spend quality time with them and to complete an expedition I'd been trying to do but which kept being postponed due to operational commitments. The girls were apprehensive at the start, but they talk about it as one of the best things they've ever done.

Advice to cadets going on their first expedition?

Pack light! Take a look at everything in your rucksack and ask yourself if you really need it. That extra phone battery shouldn’t be necessary if the phone is just for emergencies. An electric toothbrush is a bit of a luxury that won’t be needed – just use a normal one. At the end of an expedition, I always ask cadets what they learnt and they nearly all wish they'd packed lighter.

What would you never go without?

Lightweight flip-flops. After a long day trekking you need to give your feet some air.

What kit do you always pack?

Getting a good night’s sleep is key. I take a sleeping-bag liner and an inflatable pillow. If you can sleep in warmth and comfort you can deal with the challenges of the following day. Also take treats you like which'll perk you up.