Week 6 and Long Reach!

Well, things haven't really changed!  We are once again endowed with lap tops, mobile phones, freestyle wardrobe layouts and occasionally the odd cheeky non regulation pair of socks but the schedule remains the same.  In fact, if anything, over the days before heading to Wales the tempo has upped, with planning for the Exercise crow barred into every available minute between usual lessons.

So to the mythical Long Reach itself.  For those of you not already aware of Exercise Long Reach i shall briefly summarise.  We are told the Exercise is the most gruelling physical event on any non Special Forces Army training programme, which seems fair.  It comprises essentially 9 manned checkpoints ( Command Tasks involving mental/physical tasks of the build a bridge over a river with a rope, a smoked halibut, a jelly fish and half a packet of wet wipes ilk); and 5 unmanned checkpoints spread across the Black Mountains and located in the most irritating locations possible.  Our route comprised 72km (which probably ended up being about 80 due to navigation errors and other bumbling; climbing and descending 4 seperate mountain features; all carrying Bergan weighing 20kg (plus about another 7 when carrying the bloody radio).


Personally the Exercise went fine, my fitness held up well and despite having rather sore feet and shoulders as i write this on Saturday post Exercise, i feel pretty good.  Tiredness as ever is the main killer, as during our 36 hour time we grabbed only 2.5 hours or so of hasty kip in a forest, sometime during Thursday afternoon.  The other 33.5 hours were solid walking/command tasking.  All of us were seriously hurting at some stage but as the Csgt would say that is 'the nature of the beast', and it has to be remarked also that at times (mainly in the first few hours) we had to remind ourselves that we were being paid to walk around some beautiful hills with a group of mates!

Wales did as Wales should and threw every conceivable weather scenario at us during that time, rain, hail, thick nighttime fog, and beautiful sunny periods.  The group i think its fair to say struggled with the distance, and our time was disappointing, but we made it, which is no small feat, and this is certainly one of those seminal moments in the course.

Included are a few pictures, mainly from the opening sections of the walk, as during the latter stages batteries started to run out, weather started to get worse and moods less conducive to photo shoots.  From here it is straight back to the grind stone, no real let up i expect.  We are tentatively hoping though that gradually liberties will be stretched and at least a modicum of free time installed.  Time will tell!