Ten Tors! :yay: · 4:36pm May 11th, 2014
So. The weekend loomed over me like a shadow for the entire week. The weekend slowly approaching as the challenge drew nearer and nearer with each passing minute. And suddenly. On Saturday May Tenth. At 0645. The gun sounded and I found myself starting a thirty five mile trek across dartmoor.
Two thousand and four hundred of us. All walking down the hill as the two emergency Sea Kings flew across seconds after the gun sounded, inspiring us all. Suddenly half of the group split right and head towards their first major hill as others continue onwards. All aiming for the first Tor and checkpoint. Oke Tor.
Now. A quarter of the way through this immense challenge. Gale force winds predidcted to peak a sixty miles per hour on top of exposed Tor side and moor land, coupled with thrashing rain as the sun hide behind the dark grey clouds drenched us all. Checkpoint after Checkpoint. We finally reached the campsite. Rough Tor Checkpoint Five. Gale force winds still blowing and having to climb a twenty five percent gradient, drenched to the bone and shivering. Finally we make camp and by this time we are exhausted with one member of our group dropped out and many other teams having to be pulled off the moor all together we hunkered down to try and get some rest.
Dawn breaks as I stand shivering like there's no tomorrow. Watching the sun peak over the adjacent Tor when a Staff Sergeant decked out in full MTP camouflaged clothing notices me and walks up to me before speaking in his gruff and hardened voice "Get your survival bag out and hope in it in your tent. I'l call the helicopter." I nod dumb founded and numb from the cold as I trudge back to my tent with my head hung low. Crawling into the bright orange survival bag I lay my head in sorrow against my bag.
The Sergeant comes back and informs me and my team that the helo would pick me up at 0815 and i'd be the first on, making me top priority because of the hypothermia. Half an hour later at 0715 the distinct slapping sound of the Sea Kings rotors reaches my ears and steadily grows louder and louder until it is a almost defening constant thunder in our ears.
Suddenly another voice is at our tent door calling my name. Crawling slowly out of the survival bag I find the voice to be the medical officer and paramedic of the Sea King deafening us. Collecting my gear and throwing it over his shoulder he hurried me towards the great machine. Now directly under the rotor blades hearing was taken away from me as i could only hear the fast and rythmic Whuump Whuump Whuump of the helo's rotor blades.
Seconds later after strapping me in and placing a flexible air crew helmet over my head protecting my ears, head and eyes the Sea King lurch's upwards as we take off heading back towards Okehampton Army Battle Camp. And back into warmth and caring hands.
And that ladies and gentlemen. Is a ever so slightly dramatised version of the walk I did this weekend. Although i did have a onset of hypothermia and had to be air lifted out 
What was this for?
Awesome!
I've only ever been in a helicopter twice but that one is so cool. 
2100846
Ten Tors my american friend. I was doing the thirty five miler but theres fourty five and fifty five mile routes too.
2100858
I know there awesome! Even if you do have a mild hypothermia makeing you shiver like a druggy who aint had a fix in a week
2100865
I got that last time I went on a field weekend. Whitest experience of my life so far, having to wake up with ice on your face and my supposed tent 20m away in a tree.
Oh yeah, nice Combat 95 gear.
Sounds like a funny weekend to me
2100881
It's combat soldier 95 gear
. Plus that wasnt me. Its just for illistration purposes. I never go walking with DPM on. Never.
A) Becuse if i lie down no one will see me
B) I'l look like a wannabie soldier if i wear full DPM and DPM bergans too.
2100883
It was. Well kinda looking back at it know. Also the medic i had assinged to me had these two guys who had hypothermia and sun burn at the same time
da fuq hot or cold?
2100893
But yeah funny
Both
2100898
Ahh helo's are awesome.
2100899
You don't have to tell me twice
2100886 Don't tell me what I already know, faget!
Oh fair enough, anyway. I was totally jelly of your camera for a minute there.
A) Implying Combat faget 95 makes you invisible.
B) Implying looking like your in the TA is a bad thing.
2100948
A) being in the TA (now officialy simply called the reserves) isnt bad but nkt actually being in the army and wearing full DPM CS95 for it is kinda.....Wannabie...like worse than the worst of cosplayers
B) CS95 wont make you invisible but out on the moors when your high up in a Sea King it's better to wear bright clothes.
2101534
A) Rodger that.
B) I wouldn't mind being invisible sometimes.
2101709
A) Wow
class remark 
B) would you
2101733
Thanks.
A)
B) So much.
2103855
A) No problem.
B) feckin knew it.
2104062 Gr8 m8 r8 u 9/8.