42F (King's Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps
Venture Adventure Since 1939
42F (King's Lynn) Squadron Air Training Corps
venture adventure since 1939
Canada Expedition 2009
Venture Adventure since 1939
42F Squadron is to mount an
adventurous expedition to British Colombia Canada. The trip
will include many different activities
including 8 days under canvas.
The aim of the project is to take cadets
along with 5 staff to instruct , demonstrate and practice
adventurous activities . The demands of the expedition would also foster
and cultivate a high level of teamwork and leadership. Skills will be
learnt that will enable full participation in all activities .
The expedition is self funded by the participants
either by creating
fundraising events, applying for grants and /or by personal payments.
Training days have been held and also a sponsored bike ride
to help with funding .
The trip will be 15 days in
total .This will include 2 days travelling, 5 days
in hostel based accommodation and 8 days of expedition. The
proposed date will be 1-15 August
2009. The days that are hostel based will include educational visits and
Civic visits to Vancouver .
As part of the Civic visits, and in recognition that Captain Vancouver
was born in King’s Lynn 42F
King’s Lynn squadron is taking a letter and gift from the Mayor of Kings
Lynn to the Mayor of Vancouver and will hand this over at the reception
on August 11th at Vancouver City Hall .
Cdt Sgt Tom Pearce – the Mayors Cadet for 2009, accepted the gift from
the Mayor
Kings Lynn And West Norfolk
–Michael Pitcher. He was
accompanied by Mayoress Gillian Pitcher
and handed over a book on the history of King’s Lynn and and a
letter that will be handed over to the Mayor of Vancouver Gregor
Robertson.
The expedition part of the trip will be taken with the assistance of
Matt Delaney of Whistler
Outback Adventures, who will be supplying the qualified guides and
instructors for the canoeing
and hiking. Extremely knowledgeable in the area and highly qualified
these guides will ensure that the staff and cadets are taught the skills
needed to complete the expedition.
Along with cadets from Kings Lynn, there will be two cadets from 1331 (Stowmarket)
squadron, one from Sudbury
squadron and two from 863(Thurston)
Squadron.
The trip begins on 31st July with a coach trip from Kings
Lynn to Gatwick and then a flight to Vancouver.
Here we should be met by our contacts in Canada to assist with our
onward travel to the University of British Columbia for one night before
beginning the expedition.
1ST
August – the Cadets Sea to Sky Expedition British Columbia 2009 begins !
August 1st
The guides collected us all in
Vancouver and travelled up
to Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway to begin our hike up to the
Elfin Lakes. The first hike
introduced the group to the terrain in the Coastal Rainforest and water
safety concerns in this region.
Lunch and Dinner included. Overnight
at the private rafting campsite in the Paradise Valley, where the
guides went over a full trip
briefing with no campfire due to forest fires
August
2nd
Two
Day Rafting expedition on the Elaho River (class 3-4).
Cadets and staff were exposed to the planning component of the
trip and the concerns that we need to be aware of. The morning will be
filled hike to Alice Lake for a swim
and then with preparing the rafts and the necessary equipment
before we drive up to the put in point on the river. Breakfast, Lunch
and Dinner are included. The
campsite was set up along
the edge of the Squamish River.
August 3rd
Waking
up alongside the Squamish River the group was busy breaking down our
camp and getting ready for another morning on the river.
Once on the river some of the guests will have an opportunity to
guide the boats along calm areas under supervision of the professional
rafting guides. Our river trip will end just before lunch and we will
transfer back to the rafting base for a BBQ dinner and watch a slideshow
of our river expedition. All meals are included. Overnight
at our campsite in the Whistler Valley.
August 4th
Joffre
Lakes visit was postponed as road was closed due to forest fires. Group
hiked to Wedge Mountain .
Hike
up to Wedge Lake set at the base of the valley’s largest peak, Wedge
mount. The trail offers a
tough challenge in the steep ascent, but the reward is well worth the
efforts. The glaciated terrain that surrounds the region showcases the
recession of our ice fields and up close encounter with our changing
weather conditions. The group will also have an opportunity to learn
about skills to survive in
this exposed environment. Overnight
at private campsite
in the Whistler valley
August 5th
Biking
in the Whistler Valley. Whistler is world renowned for its mountain
biking trails as well as the beginner friendly crushed gravel and paved
pathways that link the local lakes together.
Along the way we’ll stop for a picnic lunch at Alta lake and the
group will have an opportunity to swim in the spring fed lakes that
surround us. After lunch the
group will have the opportunity to pick their own adventure. Options
include the local zip line spanning 2100 ft across the Fitzsimmons
creek, Mountain Biking the single-track trails of the valley, exploring
the village or simply relaxing at camp to give the body a well deserved
break. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Overnight
at our private campsite in the Whistler valley.
3 cadets went to Zip trek and took part in the
zip line, two members travelled from the lake along the small
rivers by canoe , one member took advantage of some more difficult
mountain biking while others
swam at the lake
August
6th :A full day
hike will take us past Barrier Lake, Lesser Garibaldi and finally our
destination Garibaldi Lake itself. Our route proves to an interesting
geology study with the relationship between past volcanic activity in
the area and then melting ice of the Garibaldi Neve. Our return hike
down the valley will welcome us with expansive views towards the
Tantalus Range and the Callaghan region.
Overnight at our
private campsite in the Whistler valley. A difficult and trying hike ,
but all succeeded.
August 7th:The
day began with a short steep hike to Nairn Falls
to see the wonderful waterfalls . This was followed by a visit to
the Aboriginal Culture Centre to learn about the First Nations—the
Squamish and the Lillowet people . After lunch there was an opportunity
to take a trip on the Peak to peak cable car. From Whistler Mountain to
Blackcomb Mountain this gondola ride has broken records in its
engineering
August 8th
Hike the short trail and venture into Logger’s Lake. Set in a volcanic
crater this lake is a perfect spot for a lakeside lunch and optional
swim with rope swings into the water . A great place to wrap up our
week’s adventures .
Continuing south we drive through the Cheakamus Canyon
past the large rock – the Chief
-----and return to Whistler for a late afternoon drop off.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Having made contact with
Captain Dave Morier of the Military
and Cadet forces in Canada. He offered to assist us with our
planning and this meant that extra events were put onto the programme .
So on Sat.08 Aug.– after we arrived back from the expedition, the
officers took a trip to
Downtown Vancouver for pick-up of rental mini-vans. – these were good
quality mini buses with room
at the rear for kit bags.
Sun.09 Aug.–
Cadets and staff were invited by Capt Morier and friends
to help out at
Abbotsford Air show, and in return for a little labour
with the General
Aviation static displays, airplane security, and
programmes , the team enjoyed a full day at a great air show with
a fantastic flying display. They were able to visit the aircraft close
up on the flight line and took the opportunity to see the Snowbirds .
All also met with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and had photographs
taken
Mon.10 Aug.–
After the hard work of the
expedition and a very full
day at the air show, Monday was hoped to be spent ‘relaxing’ on a
boat—Whale watching!! The team travelled to the coast
and unfortunately received a telephone call to say the boat was
cancelled to to extreme weather conditions. It was a cold and wet day
so plans were changed and all decided to try and visit Grouse
mountain and possibly the bears. Unfortunately neither moose nor bears
like the rain !!!! so we did
not see anything apart from the ghostly mist as we rose up Grouse
Mountain through it
Tues.11
Aug.–
Vancouver was named after Captain Vancouver, and because he was born in
King’s Lynn , the squadron decided to recognise this with a gift from
the Mayor of King’s Lynn to the Mayor of Vancouver . The day began with
a visit to Vancouver Council
Chambers and VIP reception
with the Deputy Mayor
( the Mayor was on holiday break) before a tour of City Hall.
After lunch the team
returned to UBC for a quick change and lunch before having some free
time to shop and visit the City
Wed.12 Aug.–
Whale watching companies were again contacted to see if there was any
chance of trying again and we were lucky that the 5th company
could fit us in during the afternoon. The team travelled to Steveston
during the morning and lunched in the area before going the boat. We
went out to sea for almost two hours around the small islands until we
came to an area known to have whale sightings . After waiting some time
4 transients were seen
and although the boats are not allowed to go to close
it was an awesome sight to
see these majestic mammals
chasing along the coast in search of seals as food .
Thurs.13 Aug.–
Rising early for a trip to the US border , the convoy got underway at
6am for a One day
trip to naval base USNAS WHIDBEY ISLAND. This
was organised with the assistance of Capt
Morier and his friends .
A total of 16 personnel travelled in the
2 vehicles across the border and to the Base. Signage was put
onto the vehicles to ease the passage . After stopping at the border to
get green card visas , the team went onto Whidbey island – almost two
hours away . Visits were
made to many sections and
link trainers for the Prowler aircraft were seen in action as well as
the pool where all the Navy training is done .Breakfast and Lunch was
taken on the base and a
quick visit to the incoming flight aircraft – the Growlers was made
before the team left to return to Canada.
Fri 14th After a
late evening where last minute packing was done as well as visits to the
shops cadets and staff said
goodbye to UBC at 9 am and travelled to Downtown Vancouver for the last
visit of the trip – Vancouver Aquarium . Dolphins , tropical fish ,
otters and seals were seen
along with many corals , jellyfish and sponges ...........but the most
memorable animal was the new baby beluga whale – unnamed at present
who was seen swimming close to his mother .
A wonderful end to the trip.............after this we travelled to the
airport and booked in. Our flight left on time and arrived back at
Gatwick at 1030 .............however with baggage claim and a traffic
filled journey home we did
not arrive back at Kings Lynn until 16:45........................tired
but with fantastic memories
