THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
TRIPS SolidGold
RIVERS WESTLEY (YEAR 13) DESCRIBES A MEMORABLE TREK ACROSS THE VERCORS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE, THE COMPLETION OF HIS YEAR-GROUP’S DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD EXPEDITION
O ur initial hopes for a somewhat relaxed expedition quickly evaporated, as upon stepping off our nicely air-conditioned coach we were greeted with a wave of heat. This was immediately matched by our amazement at the awe-inspiring beauty of the mountain scenery that towered above us. Full of excitement and anticipation for the days to come, we witnessed the peak, no pun intended, of French hospitality as the mountains’ icy stares welcomed us to the base camp at Autrans. Before embarking upon our four day 80-kilometre hike across the plateau, we were given a day to acclimatise and make final preparations. We were divided into teams of between five and seven and spent this first day getting to grips with the heat as well as the realisation that we would be without internet for up to four days. We conducted mock navigation exercises in order to get familiar with the terrain as well as getting used to the somewhat bizarre French maps. The first day of the expedition began with a mournful farewell to the hot water and other amenities provided by the campsite, as we set off from Villard de Lans to our first destination, Saint Martin en Vercors, 20 kilometres away. While we had been given a day to get used to the heat it was still punishing, and by the end of the first day many boys were exhausted. The initial anticipation and excitement were superseded by foot pain, as well as the realisation that much of the trek lay in front of us.
We pushed on, and although some of the teams met with some initial difficulty in navigating, which led to them scaling the side of a cliff, day two was by and large easier than the previous one. However, the wild camping that we undertook was starkly different from the normal comfort that we have come to expect. While there was some initial grumbling about the sleeping arrangements, the stunning view of Le Grand Vermont was readily appreciated by many. However, for the few boys who had been finding the hike ‘too easy’ up to this point, seeing it wasn’t enough. At the start of the third day they were given the challenge of climbing its peak, the highest point in the Massif du Vercors. We finished the third day on a slightly sombre note as we set up camp within sight of a monument commemorating those who had lost their lives fighting the Nazi occupation. This had resulted in the decimation of the Vercors’ population, and has left scars which can still be seen in the form of abandoned shells of homes littering the rural landscape. On the final day of walking we descended out of the picturesque landscape to the Col de Rousset, before being transported back to Autrans where we were welcomed with a celebratory evening of pizza and cake. While it had indeed been both a physically and mentally exhausting four days, the sense of accomplishment and relief that accompanied the completion of the expedition felt almost as good as the warm shower afterwards. It was an unforgettable experience, and I would highly recommend Gold Duke of Edinburgh to anyone.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE EXPEDITION BEGAN WITH A MOURNFUL FAREWELL TO THE HOT WATER AND OTHER AMENITIES PROVIDED BY THE CAMPSITE
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