The Alleynian 704 2016

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CCF Arctic Survival

Edward Chapman (Year 12)

B y the time we made it to our shelter, a woodland cabin, it was already dark and bitterly cold. After a brief pow-wow with our survival guides, Chris and Nigel, we could do little but wait for morning. We were in Sweden, 13 boys and three teachers, ready to face a difficult but enjoyable week just below the Arctic Circle. By 6.30am, a select band was awake, lighting fires and preparing breakfast. We soon set off for our first activity – cross-country skiing – plunging into the woods, led by a snowmobile. After lunch (and the obligatory snowball fight), we returned to base to start another task, piling up snow for our later survival stage. It may not seem like heavy labour, but even the simplest tasks took a lot of energy.

Subsequent days continued on this pattern: up at first light to crackling fires; breakfast; the next activity. Monday brought dog-sledding. We helped harness the huskies, and then took them on a long route around the lake. We were bitterly cold; it was apparently too hot for the dogs, who tried to cool down by diving face- first into the snow. We arrived back at the cabin that night ready for supper and sleep – but it wasn’t to be, for this was the day that the survival phase began. At what felt like midnight (but was probably more like 5pm), we left the cabin and began preparations for our first night in the wilderness. Clearing a large area of snow, we put up a tent (of sorts)

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