Scouting

One flight was made from Rufforth, by the kind arrangement of the Officer Commanding the Communications Flight, No. 64 (N) Group. New members of the Section flew on this occasion.

A FLIGHT TO IRAQ

I set off from Lyneham Airport, near Swindon at the unsavoury hour of 12-15 a.m. on the 20th of April. The first leg of the flight was to Castel Benito, near Tripoli, where the plane duly arrived later in the morning. Castel Benito air station is situated only 15 miles from Tripoli which is on the sea coast. Tripoli is quite a large town with a huge harbour. There are still a few signs of the battering it received in the last war, when it was one of the main battlegrounds of North Africa. The town is dominated by a large castle, which rises nearly 200 feet above the harbour. This castle used to guard Tripoli against the marauding bands of pirates which roamed the Mediterrananean hundreds of years ago. It is now the British N.A.A.F.I.

From Castel Benito I went on to my destination, the camp of Habbamya in Iraq. 'Habbamya is situated 60 miles S.W. of Baghdad, on the banks of the Euphrates. It is a very large camp, with modern buildings which include an air-conditioned cinema and a swimming pool about six times as large as the School baths. Outside the camp, however, there is just sand, sand, and more sand, the only noteworthy piece of scenery being Lake Habbamya, a huge lake in the desert near the camp. It has an area of about 150 sq. miles, and in stormy weather the waves on it reach a height of 30 feet. The temperature at Habbamya is usually about 85 deg; once or twice it reach over 100 deg. in the shade.

As on the outward journey, I flew back to England via El Adem, in Lybia, and Castle Benito, and again stayed two days at the latter camp. I arrived at Lyneham with 34 more flying hours to my credit, and very conscious of the fact that I had only 3/6 in my pocket to pay customs duty. The customs officer was in a good mood, however, and I got through without trouble. I reached home at 3 o'clock in the morning on the 30th April.

D. K. Timms.

SENIOR SCHOOL PATROLS

Work for Second and First Class tests again occupied a large part of troop meetings, with a few wide games for variety. The Beavers won the patrol competition, closely followed by the Seals.

Bob-a-Job week this year was during the Easter Holidays. The average earned was over ten shillings per boy, which is very satisfactory.

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A new venture was the hike in the Lake District towards the end of the holidays. This was attended by 14 Scouts and 2 Scouters who all seemed to enjoy themselves. It is hoped to make this an annual event. An account of the tour appears below.

Arrangements for Summer Camp are well in hand. The Court of Honour wished to go further afield than usual and a good site has been obtained at Aber on the North Wales coast opposite Anglesey.

SCOUT LAKE DISTRICT TOUR

On the sunny morning of 18th April, fourteen Scouts and two Scouters met at York Station for a week's hike in the Lake District.

We arrived safely at Windermere in the afternoon and from the station walked along the lake to Waterhead and on to Ambleside. The last of the party reached the Youth Hostel by 5-15 p.m. and soon discovered the hostel system of bed-making, while some of us peeled a large quantity of potatoes as our duty for the day. A very satisfying meal of soup, meat and vegetables and a sweet followed and after an evening stroll we settled more or less rapidly into the twotier beds.

Next day we divided into two parties for the walk to Greenside Hostel and we left Ambleside in beautiful sunshine. We had intended to go over Fairfield but were warned that the snow on it was rather treacherous so we chose the route over Scandale Pass instead. Following Scandale Beck we climbed slowly, while the weather gradually became colder, with low cloud and a biting wind, until at the top of the pass (1,700 ft.) there were patches of snow. Here one party lunched in the shelter of a wall while the other continued down Caiston Glen. While having lunch there they saw a pack of hounds hunting on the side of High Hartsopp Dodd and later picked up a foxes brush. After lunch we descended to Brothers Water and followed the road through Patterdale and alongside Ullswater, finishing with a steady climb up Glenridding to the hostel. Everyone found this a cold spot—a thousand feet above sea level and no hot water-but the small bedrooms and good meals were very popular.

The morning was clear but cold and extra clothing was worn as we left the hostel in one party for Helvellyn. After we started with a ziz-zag climb to the Sticks Pass the sun soon blazed out on us and superfluous garments were stowed for the rest of the day. On reaching the ridge between Stybarrow Dodd and Raise we turned south to the top of Raise (2,889 ft.) and rested there. Now we were walking on snow nearly all the time, dazzled by the sunlight reflected from it. The views in all directions were magnificent while near at hand the snow overhanging the edge of the ridges by many feet was a warning of the care needed in bad weather. Continuing over Low Man (3,033 45

ft.) we reached the summit of Helvellyn (3,118 ft.) and there in the sunshine we lunched and enjoyed the views. In the afternoon one party went over Dollywaggon Pike and down by Grisedale Tarn while the other dropped down to Thirlmere and followed the road to Grasmere.

Our next day's journey was up Far Easedale, over Greenup Edge (1,990 ft.) and down to Longthwaite Hostel in Borrowdale for the week-end. A few of the more energetic ones struck off southwards over High White Stones for the Langdale Pikes. They climbed Sergeant Man and Harrison Stickle and were rewarded with views of Windermere, Coniston and several lesser lakes with the sea glinting to the south. The return to 'Greenup Edge and down to Borrowdale was hurried, the hostel being reached just as supper was served.

On the Sunday we attended Matins and Holy Communion at the little church in Stonethwaite and then enjoyed a comparatively lazy day without our ruc-sacs, some visiting Lodore Falls and Watendlath while a small group set off to reconnoitre next day's route. There was soft deep snow on the Esk Hause and huge sheets of ice on the north face of the Scafell range so it was decided with regret that we should not be able to climb the highest peak in England this year.

The alternative route which we took next day was by Seathwaite, Sty Head Tarn and down to Wasdale, then over Burnmoor to the hostel in Eskdale. Low cloud now covered Scafell as we skirted it and it was not until next day that most of us had a glimpse of the summit.

On Tuesday we followed the Roman road eastwards over Hard Knott and Wrynose Pass. On the way we investigated the Roman fort which guarded the valley from Ravenglass. The outlines of the walls and lower parts of the four corner towers are clearly recognisable and there is a bath house further down the hillside. Before reaching Little Landale Tarn we took the track northwards past Blea Tarn to Great Langdale. From here, there were impressive views of the Pikes to the north and Bowfell and Crinkle Crags to the west. A weary minority caught the bus from Dungeon Ghyll to Elterwater, but most of us scorned such help.

For the journey home we had a five mile walk to Ambleside, then the bus to Windermere to catch the eleven o'clock train. Some of the party, including the two Scouters, missed one bus and arrived at the station with only three minutes to spare. The journey home was comfortable and uneventful and we arrived back in York, perhaps a little tired after seventy miles of tramping, some of us more than a little sun-burned, but all feeling fitter for our exertions and with happy memories of the trip. It is hoped that an Easter Hike will become a regular feature of the Scout programme in future years. We are all very grateful to Mr. Bennett for giving us such an enjoyable time and arranging such a good route.