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OPERATION - ICEBREAKER II Activity Type: Mountain exercise for the NCO cadets of the Squadron. Objective: Build on knowledge gained and confirm understanding of the mountain covered in lectures. Location and Date:Tongariro National Park 31 July - 1 Aug. 04 Exercise Numbers: Staff: 3 NCO's: 6 Total: 9 Report: All arrived at ATC at 1900 for a gear check and issuing of the individual food. Any cadets who did not have adequate clothing and equipment had notified the staff in advance. Saturday 31-07--04 All at ATC just after 0730, van loaded and we depart for Tongariro National Park via the Parapara’s. Comfort stop at Raetihi and then onto Park Headquarters for a check of the latest mountain forecast before heading up to the ski-field. Found a place with some snow and ice and the cadets had a practice using the ice axe. Weather was closing in and starting to snow, so we returned down to the Whakapapaiti Car Park at Scoria Flat. Unloaded vehicle and while I returned the van down to the Chateau, FLTLT Cleveland and Miss Smith distributed the group food and gave a briefing on travel, what we would see, how long it would take etc. If the cadets started to look cold they were going to start walking and I would catch them up on the track or at the hut. I returned in under 15 minutes, cadets still warm and playing hacky sack. Packs on and we quietly started walking, stopping after 20 minutes for a clothing alteration as required and a snack stop. Another stop at the top of the ridge, for photos, snack and drink before descending into the Whakapapaiti Valley and onto the hut. Arrived at hut, where Miss Smith gave the hut etiquette brief, followed by lunch. After lunch mountain radio aerial put up and into the firewood cutting. FLTLT Cleveland provided a lesson on how to use an axe, as many of the cadets no longer have fires at home. The NCO’s thoroughly enjoyed the firewood cutting, trying to find the largest piece to cut up, and at the end we had an ample supply not only for ourselves but others to use after us. The NCO’s sat down and with their buddies finished off their route guides for Sunday. A question and answer time was offered to the NCO’s on any aspect of clothing, equipment and 1 st Aid. With an hour before tea a relaxing game of cards for the NCO’s. Tea prepared, eaten, dishes done and benches cleaned before darkness set in. A brief on how to use the mountain radio and the service they provide was carried out before the 1830 schedule. Cpl Thomas Kuhn was our radio operator, Cpl Natasha Ward the scribe of the weather forecast and any other messages while the rest of us listened in. Only two other parties out with mountain radios. Water on to boil to provide cold drinking water for Sunday and the NCO’s were keen for another game of cards. All in bed at around 2115, followed soon after by a very quiet hut. Sunday 01-08-04 All up by 0715 and breakfast under way. Everybody had a hot breakfast, dropped the mountain radio aerial, packed our gear away and cleaned the hut. Miss Smith covered how to fill in the intentions book and use of hut passes. On the track at 0930. A quiet start to the day down a frosty valley to the river crossing 15-20 minutes away. A cold, but not very deep river greeted us and once on the other side we adjusted clothing and continued down the valley, stopping for snacks and drinks breaks along the way. A grassy area to the side of the track and in the sun around 1200 provided a perfect place for lunch. Some had a cold lunch of mainly crackers, cheese and fruit, while some cooked up pasta and milo. The last hour is an easy part of the track and we quietly walked along enjoying the day. Just after the turn off to Silica Rapids, Cpl Ward slipped on a step and rolled her ankle. Miss Smith completed the medical check, FLTLT Cleveland organised the double packing for the remaining 15 minutes walk and we were under way again with Cpl Ward assisted by two Leki poles. Out at the road at 1330, uplifted and loaded van, then on the road back to Wanganui. NCO’s dropped of at their homes, cleaned van which FLTLT Cleveland then returned to Ohakea. Report
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No. 9 (City of Wanganui) Squadron |
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