Silver Star Expedition (2016)

I woke up earlier than usual on Friday, May 6.  I had a flight to catch and I didn’t want to be late.  I had packed my duffel bag & backpack last night.  I changed into my military cadpat combat fatigues after taking a shower and brushing my teeth.  Lt. May came by at 7:15am and drove me & another cadet to the airport.

            

One of the great things about being in the northern cadet program is that you get to travel all over Canada.  (The second great thing is to be selected for international exchanges).  This can be for summer camp, competitions, and weekend excursions.  One such weekend excursion is the yearly Silver Star Expedition (SSE).  Silver Star cadets from corps in Nunavut come together for a weekend field training exercise (FTX).  (Silver Star is your third level of training).  The participating cadets and adult staff would engage in hiking & survival activities. 

This year, cadets from Arctic Bay, Naujaat (formerly known as Repulse Bay), and Rankin Inlet would be participating.  The FTX was originally planned to take place in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba, but had to be moved to Birds Hill Provincial Park, (Manitoba), because of the raging forest fires around Fort McMurray, Alberta.  The SSE would run from May 6 to 9.  I made sure to prepare lesson plans for the supply teacher.

Our corps would be sending all five of our silver star cadets to the expedition.  I would be their escort officer during travel but at the FTX, I would be assisting the higher ranking officers with supervision and leading all cadets.  This was my first time attending the SSE.  I had prepared my five cadets by issuing olive green field training uniforms (FTUs), aka combats, and duffel bags.  We were allowed to bring and wear civilian clothing; I issued the FTUs in case there would be a time to wear them. 

The Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest) staff in Winnipeg made all the travel arrangements.  A chartered aircraft would fly everyone down to Winnipeg and back up to their respective communities.  They also booked a voyageur bus for travel between Winnipeg and the park.  I’m sure most of the SSE budget was spent on the charter but chartering aircraft makes travelling for large groups much more convenient.

            

We boarded the large Perimeter aircraft at 8:30am.  The twin-propeller plane was quite big, capable of carrying 45 passengers.  We would have the plane all to ourselves until we landed in Naujaat.  I was told that 3055 Naujaat would have the most participants: 30 cadets & the commanding officer.   

Naujaat

The flight to Naujaat was about two hours.  I took some pictures of the frozen landscape below and listened to music.  Upon landing in the community, we were instructed to disembark and wait in the terminal for the plane to be stocked with snacks & beverages.  The small airport terminal was full of Inuit youth.  The captain of 3055 asked me if I had known that these type of southern excursions are usually done wearing civilian clothing.  I replied that I had not, but I had packed civilian clothing in case I was required to change.  (I was the only officer wearing the cadpat fatigues).

            

Our Perimeter plane in Rankin Inlet.

Waiting for the voyageur bus.

We all boarded the plane and continued our flight to Rankin Inlet.  We landed at lunchtime.  The Rankin Inlet cadets were waiting for us at the Keewatin Air hanger.  We all waited there while the plane was refueled.  The last flight was to Winnipeg.  I took pictures of our final approach before we touched down on the runway.  Our plane taxied to a small terminal used by chartered aircraft.  A captain was there waiting to greet us.  The officer briefed me and the captain from Naujaat about how the schedule and what to expect.  The voyageur bus arrived about an hour after we landed.  Once all of our gear was loaded, we were driven to the park.  Birds Hill Provincial Park is closer to Winnipeg than Spruce Woods.

            

Loading & boarding the bus.

Welcome Briefing.

Setting up tents.

Three captains were waiting for us when we arrived at the camp site.  All the cadets formed up in a large platoon and listened to the welcome briefing.  The boundaries, location of the washrooms, and the schedule were discussed. The cadets were then split into groups and instructed to setup tents.  Sleeping bags and mattresses were distributed after the tents were erected.  I was able to get a tent all to myself.

Breakfast the following morning consisted of MREs – Meals Ready to Eat.  Each group prepared their own meals using DragonFly stoves.  The meals were alright but the American-made MREs will never be on the same level as the Canadian-made IMPs – Individual Meal Packages.

            

Rucksacks were handed out and everyone got ready for the hikes.  Everyone was instructed to pack as if they would be spending the night out in the wilderness.  We had to pack: tents, sleeping bags, meals, DragonFly stoves, extra fuel, spare clothing, water, and first aid kits.  I chose to wear my cadpat fatigues.  Two of my cadets followed suit and wore their olive green FTUs.  We were all issued walking poles for added assistance.

           

I was assigned to a female group that would be led by a Second-Lieutenant officer (2Lt).  I would be her 2IC.  (IC stands for in-command).  Our goal was to hike to an observation tower in the middle of the park, then turn around and head back to the camp site.  The cadets were allowed to use a map and compass.  I had brought my Garmin GPS device on this trip and would only use it in case of emergencies. 

            

We followed a trail, then a road, and then a horse trail.  We saw two people on horseback before we took the trail.  I, and most likely the other cadets, didn’t know that the park catered to horse owners/riders.  I advised the cadets to watch where they step on the horse trail.  We, and some of the other groups, arrived at a riding stable and equestrian course.  There were people riding and grooming their horses.  We ate a brief lunch under a tree.

            

Me holding the horse by the reins.

A captain from another group had convinced one of the hired hostlers at the stables to let her cadets pet one of the horses and get their pictures taken while standing next to it.  My group was the second group to have a go.  The hostler explained how to properly hold the reins and act next to the large black horse.  Some of the Inuit cadets were hesitate to stand next to it.  Animals of that size in the arctic are usually aggressive and deadly (ie. Polar bears).  After much reassurance, they summoned the courage and took the horse by the reins.  The other horses safely roamed behind wooden fences.  An elderly white horse was lying on the ground tanning . . . or sleeping.

            

I wasn’t scared of the horse.  I have stood next and even rode a few many years ago.  The only issue I have with horses is the smell.  No matter how many times you wash them, they just have that particular odour that I find unpleasant.

            

It took us about another two hours to get to the observation tower.  Unfortunately, the wooden tower was smaller than I thought.  We all breathed sighs of relief, took off our backpacks and stretched.  None of the cadets in my group complained about the trek but I could tell from their faces that they normally don’t carry heavily loaded backpacks over several kilometres on foot.  I don’t either.  I use my skidoo when I go to work.  (Except for the last little while because of the breakdown).  I’m not sure how much each of our backpacks weighed, but I think we were each carrying between 20 – 40 pounds.  We stayed at the observation tower for some time, regaining our strength.  From the tower you could see vast fields of trees.

            

View from the Observation Tower.

It was the late afternoon when we started heading back to the camp site.  We walked south this time until we arrived at North Drive, one of the main roads of the camp.  We followed this road almost until the very end.  I think I got a good sun tan on my face even though I was wearing a military issued cadpat tilley hat.  I was surprised to find a discarded Blackberry phone on the side of the road.  The device was cracked all over and no battery.  Someone must have been very upset, I thought.

            

We cut across a large open field.  The field was yellow and the sky was blue with white clouds.  Due to our frequent stops, I thought we would be one of the last groups to arrive at the camp site.  Turns out we were the second.  We set up our tents and relaxed until the remaining groups came back.  Dinner again consisted of MREs.  When night came, we all went to sleep.  Only the animals of the night spoke.

           

            

Water Pump lesson.

Sunday, May 8 was all about “closing shop”.  Just like the day before, all the tents were taken down and the sleeping bags were packed up.  All issued kit was returned to the trailer and placed in their respective bins.  The cadets were given one last lesson on hand-operated water pumps by one of the captains.  All personal kit was moved close to the road so that it would be easier & faster to load the voyageur bus.  The bus arrived ahead of schedule.

            

Group photo

A debriefing was held after lunch.  The captain-in-charge congratulated everyone for successfully completing the expedition.  A group photo was taken before we all did one last garbage sweep of the area.

            

STARS Ambulance

The cadets were given a chance to do some shopping at a Wal-Mart in Winnipeg.  I was tempted to buy school supplies but I had to restrain myself.  I should have brought a large box with me on this trip.  We arrived at the airport ahead of schedule.  We had to wait a good hour for the plane to be towed out of the hanger and prepped for travel.  A STARS rescue helicopter landed next to the terminal and the crew unloaded an injured man on a stretcher.  They refueled and took off some time later.

            

The return flight to the arctic was mostly uneventful.  The Rankin Inlet cadets were the first to reach their destination, followed by the Naujaat cadets.  The plane became eerily silent for the last leg of the flight.  The Arctic Bay cadets and I had the whole plane to ourselves again.  We landed after midnight on Monday, May 9.  The sun was still out and the airport was closed.  The landing lights were switched on by the pilot in the plane.  (I didn’t know that could be done).  Lt. May and several parents were waiting for us on the tarmac.  The plane was unloaded and the flight crew locked the aircraft.  They would stay overnight at the hotel.  They were picked up by the hotel van.

            

I was driven home by Lt. May.  I told him that I & the cadets had fun in Winnipeg.  I went straight to bed after unpacking all my belongings.  I was glad that my leave request for Monday was approved.  I was way too tired to teach.