Mountain Adventure Expands Horizons for Dorset Army Cadets

This summer, cadets from Dorset embarked on an ambitious mountain adventure to the Italian Dolomites, with support from ACCT UK. This was the second year the unit had undertaken this challenging expedition, building on the success of their previous trip.

9 cadets and 3 volunteer instructors set out to explore the dramatic peaks and valleys of the Dolomites. Divided into three groups, the cadets undertook a range of activities including via ferrata climbing routes, single-pitch and multi-pitch rock climbing, and hiking to stunning vantage points.

The trip proved transformative for the young adventurers…

For many cadets, it was their first time travelling abroad. Cadet Corporal Smith shared, “This trip… was an experience I will never forget.”

Cadet Lance Corporal Couling perhaps summed it up best: “Not only was the climbing fun and thrilling but the views were more beautiful than I could have imagined and when we were not climbing it was still a great experience and lots of fun to bond with new people and create stronger ones with the people I already knew.”

The expedition was not without its challenges, however. The advance party faced a gruelling two-day drive to reach their campsite at Camping Olympia, battling heavy traffic along the way.

Once on site, the weather presented its own obstacles. While the first few days were sunny, the 18th dawned looking a bit showery. Undeterred, the cadets and instructors seized the opportunity during a midday break in the rain to tackle two nearby waterfalls via ferratas. This gave them an “ideal introduction” to the challenges that lay ahead.

Over the course of the expedition, the cadets pushed their personal boundaries, both physically and mentally. They completed an impressive:

But the trip was about more than these challenges. As the cadets worked together in their small groups, they forged stronger bonds and grew in confidence. Cadet Corporal Smith noted how “Bonds forged with fellow Cadets over that week built stronger every day as well as with the instructors.”

For some, the experience even sparked new interests and potential future hobbies.

Through this expedition, the cadets gained confidence, built camaraderie, and made memories together.

We’re proud to have played a role in making this transformative adventure possible. By providing grant funding, ACCT UK helped ensure that this challenging yet rewarding expedition was accessible to all the cadets, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Cadet Corporal Elkins said “the trip gave me the realisation of how fortunate we are and how much we take for granted on this planet.”

For these young adventurers, the Dolomites mountain adventure was a life-changing experience that expanded their horizons and inspired them to reach new heights.

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