An Cosantóir

32 | The by Cpl Robbie Daniels (3 Inf Bn) F ive days of mountain navigation from 25 – 29 November turned out to be a challenge of both body and mind for 15 students from 3 Inf Bn. They arrived fully kitted out and ready for an exciting week, which began at Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee. To begin with it was back to basics for the troops, with map reading, programme briefs, and lectures on mountain safety, accident procedures and mountaineering topping the list of subjects on day one. On the square in Ballymullen Sgt Henry Byrne conducted an excellent practical lesson in trusting your compass and pacing. All these are essential practical skills that would be put to test in an area that has claimed the lives of previous mountaineers. Day two started with the usual shake out of kit, a lesson on the dangers of mountains and rivers and a practical route planning session. The group then moved on to the Macgillycuddy Reeks, the highest mountain range in the country, to test our pacing accuracy through various types of terrain. We made our way up via the route known as The Bone, traversed a ridge and then down the Zig-Zags exit route. Total time in the Reeks was about seven hours, with the weather good, apart from poor visibility on the ridge, which seemed to be the pattern for the week. The next day we started at Kate Kearney's Cottage, moved on road through the Gap of Dunloe until we found our track, which led us up towards the fabled Ballagh Pass and eventually across The Big Gun. The challenge was enhanced by darkness and the need to pick our way through many rocky switchbacks on a steep decline. Some of the students even called it fun! But they realised very quickly how important contours are for navigation. An Cosantóir February 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie Our last big push was on day four when the target was Carrantuohill via the Eagle's Nest and O'Shea's Gully. However, conditions on the day meant that we had to change the plan to just taking the Central Gully and then onto the summit and a descent by the Zig-Zags. This change in plan and the early creep of nightfall really piled the pressure on the students in what was already a challenging climb. The fact that the week was all about teaching mountaineering and practical navigation really showed here with the students performing multiple nav checks and getting the team down safely. It was an experience they will carry with them for the rest of their military careers. I would like to thank Sgt Byrne and Sgt Shane Whelan from 3 Inf Bn, who came down to give a hand, and also DFAM members Sgt Fran Whelan (Air Corps) and Pte Conor O'Dwyer (12 Inf Bn, Limerick), without whose assistance the week would not have happened. Two months planning for one week of madness. Was it worth it? Absolutely!

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