Silver Star Expedition (2017) - Part 2

Saturday, May 6.

            

My group getting ready for their hike.

Reveille was at 7:00am.  Everyone woke up, got dresses, and prepared their own breakfast MREs.  (MREs stands for Meals-Ready-to-Eat).  Once breakfast was out of the way, the officers in charge of each group briefed the cadets about the upcoming hikes.  The main objectives for this field training exercise are: to hike a certain distance with a packed rucksack, learn how to pack only what you need, apply the navigation knowledge you learned at the corps level, and lead a group of cadets on a hike.  Everyone was instructed to pack their rucksacks as if they would be overnighting away from the main camp site.  We packed: our tents, sleeping bags, change of clothing, MREs, & first aid kits.  The cadets were issued compasses & maps of the park.  Before they could begin trekking, they had to plan a course on the map and calculate the distance.  The officers were given GPS devices in case their groups went off course.

            

Officers calibrating their GPS devices.

The hike begins.

Equestrians.

The hikes began in the late morning.  Each cadet would get a chance to lead their groups.  They hikes were to last until the late afternoon, covering a distance of 10 – 14km.  The cadets were instructed to be on their best behaviour because we were hiking in a public park.  They were also told to occasionally look down at the ground to avoid stepping on horse feces.  Birds Hill is frequently visited by equestrians & their horses, and the park is equipped with boarding stables.  I photographed several horse riders while on our way to the lake.            

Man-made lake.

Water break.

Hard shelter.

When my group arrived at the man-made lake, we were surprised to see it drained.  There was a plan to have cadets paddle from one side of the lake to the other in canoes but that would no longer be happening.  I was surprised by how shallow the lake was.  We walked around the lake and continued the hike.  We arrived at a hardened shelter, deep within the park, about an hour after leaving the lake.  The dragonfly burners were set up and the MREs were cooked.  Lunch lasted 45 minutes.

            

The hike continues.

Large friendly dog.

My group began heading back to the camp site but we took the scenic route.  We walked towards the stables and stopped there for a quick water break.  The cadets petted a large friendly dog before continuing the trek.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the horses in the stables like last year.  However, while we were walking past a large open field, two equestrians happened to be passing by on their horses and they, the equestrians, not the horses, let us pet them (horses).  (Trying to avoid confusion).

            

Is that Bambi?

An officer cadet helps one of my cadets.

One of my cadets happened to be in my group and she led the cadets back to the camp site.  It was the late afternoon and we were one of the first groups to come back.  Overall, each cadet did a good job leading the group, but some need to review their navigation & compass skills.  Dinner was prepared once all the groups returned.  A period of free time followed.

            

Bonfire.

Bonfire & marshmallows.

The senior officers in charge started a bonfire and brought out roasting sticks & marshmallows.  I had a few marshmallows but not as many as the cadets.  I was full from eating MREs for dinner.  I took several pictures of everyone standing around the warm fire.  The temperature was hot during the day but getting colder at dusk.  By nightfall, everyone was wearing sweaters.  Everyone went to bed that night with feelings of accomplishment. 

        

Sunday, May 7.

            

Cleaning out tents.

Taking down a tent.

The camp site was disassembled after breakfast.  Sleeping bags, air mattresses, and rucksacks were collected before the tents were taken down.  Personal belongings, (known as ‘kit’ in the military), that weren’t taken on yesterday’s hikes were returned to the cadets.  They organized their kit in neat piles.  Leftover MREs were also collected in large boxes and placed inside a large trailer.  The last task was a garbage sweep of the area.  The officers supervised the cadets at work.  Captain Francis decided to entertain the officers by making a kite from a garbage bag some rope.  He got it to fly for only a few seconds because there wasn’t much wind.

            

Captain Francis.

Final Debriefing.

The Captain-in-Charge had all the cadets sit in a semicircle in front of her for the Final Debriefing.  The officers stood behind her.  She congratulated the cadets for completing the hikes and briefly reviewed what they learned.  The other officers assisted her in announcing & rewarding the cadets from each group that demonstrated the best leadership skills.  My group had a tie.  The captain-in-charge ended her debrief by telling the cadets she hoped to see them at the Gold Star Expedition in September. 

            

Rankin Inlet cadets leaving for the airport.

The Greyhound bus approaches.

The Rankin Inlet cadets were the first group to be driven to the airport.  They had an early flight to catch.  The remaining cadets from Naujaat & Arctic Bay were picked up by a Greyhound bus about two hours later.  The Naujaat cadets would be overnighting at 17 Wing whereas my cadets would be flying to Ottawa and overnighting there.  I would meet them at the airport the following morning.  I had to fly to Toronto and then Ottawa.  I wasn’t worried because the cadets would be met by an escort officer in Ottawa.  Not the navy Lieutenant but someone else. 

            

Getting on the bus.

My cadets waiting for their flight to
Ottawa.

The journey home was an adventure on its own because of repeated delays.  I was glad there was a captain from 17 Wing at the airport because my flight left first.  She made sure my cadets were safe.  When I landed in Toronto, I learned that my flight to Ottawa was postponed until the following morning.  Thankfully, there happened to be two military officers at my gate escorting a cadet to a shooting competition in Winnipeg.  (I saw several teams arriving at the Winnipeg Airport).  They were able to get me a room at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel right next to the airport.  I was able to get a few hours of sleep before boarding my flight to Ottawa (May 8).  I met my three cadets & the escort officer at the First Air gate.  The officer explained that my cadets landed well past midnight and only spent several hours at Connaught.  I thanked him for looking after them.

            

Don't want to brag, but this my hotel room for several hours.

The flights to Iqaluit & Arctic Bay were much smoother & less stressful than the southern flights.  Usually, it’s the other way around.  Looking down below, the ice was beginning to crack & break apart in the Hudson Strait.  When the plane landed in Arctic Bay, the cadets were picked up by their parents & I got a lift from Frank.

            

Overall, the expedition was a success.  The cadets had a good time and made new friends.  It was unfortunate there was no canoeing because it would have been something different and fun for the cadets.  Next time, we’ll have to remind the park staff to not drain the lake.  My three cadets were now ready for the Gold Star Expedition in September.         

                

End of Silver Star Expedition (2017) mini-series.