There are a number of Cadets in the Squadron who are interested in hiking. Occasionally day walks in the local area have been organised, and they have been successful. But for some of the keener Cadets, day walks do not provide sufficient challenge. Several two day hikes have been organized. With more planned for this year. Apart from bad weather on one of these walks they have been very successful and enjoyed by everyone who participated.
To date Warrant Officer Booth has organised two, three day hikes, the first was from Heaton Gap, to Paxton, over a distance of 40km. Everyone who went on this hike enjoyed it, and although it was a challenge, some appetites for adventuring were still not satisfied.
It was time for a bigger challenge, and that challenge was to be the Six-Foot Track in the Blue Mountains. Click Here, to read about the Six-Foot Track Expedition, and see some very interesting pictures. Including a few of the suspension bridge, which worried a few of the Cadets.
Hiking isn't just great fun, and a good challenge. When hiking the Cadets learn navigation and map reading skills, cooking skills, bushcraft, first aid, and how to work as a team. In any organised activity, such as hiking there has to be a leader. In most cases the leader is a Senior NCO, however an Officer/Guardian is always present. In many scenarios Cadets must rely on each other, and work as a team while hiking. More than at any other time Senior NCOs have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. But they handle it well, and everyone enjoys themselves. At the end of a hike, the feeling of accomplishment is great, and the most frequently asked question is "Where are we going next?"
