A snow cave can be a daunting place to sleep.

Capt Pete Hazeldine treks across the Kosciusko National Park. Photos provided by Maj John Liston, HQTC-A

Capt John Bath hauls WO2 Rick Cope-Proctor across the Snowy River.

By Maj John Liston

Battling sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, physical exhaustion, constant pain from blisters and sunburn, eight members of HQTC-A took part in an exercise that exposed the normally office-bound warriors to major physical and mental challenges.

Exercise Kosciusko Trek was a snow survival and a cross-country skiing adventurous training activity held from July 26 until August 1 in the Snowy Mountains.
Unit Adventurous Training Leader (UATL), Capt Edward Jackson, planned the exercise to develop teamwork amongst members of HQTC-A.

“By placing personnel in an environment of high perceived danger (but low real risk), we can draw out leadership and teamwork qualities amongst participants”, he said.
These training outcomes where echoed by another UATL, Capt Adam Scott, 4RAR (Cdo).
“If soldiers face trepidation, fear and anxiety in a controlled environment they will be better prepared to handle themselves in combat,” he said.

“Adventurous training helps to build battlefield qualities of courage, determination, resolve and development of heightened stress-coping mechanisms through overcoming adversity.”

The participants were placed in an unfamiliar environment and found the conditions very demanding.

WO2 Rick Cope-Proctor said he was really taken out of his comfort zone by being constantly cold in the freezing snow.

“Most of my soldiering has been in temperate or tropical climates – not in sub-zero temperatures,” he said.

In such conditions snow has to be melted to make drinkable water, alkaline batteries rapidly discharge and lighter fluid evaporates from the ‘Zippo’ in addition to the more obvious discomforts.

Without the benefit of a back-up Q-system the participants were weighed down by a heavily-laden hiking packs containing all the supplies and equipment they needed for the five-day trek from Guthega to Thredbo.

They completed nearly 25km in that time, often setting up camp after dark in howling winds blowing fresh snow as night time temperatures plummeted to minus 10 degrees.

Capt Pete Hazeldine said the exercise was the toughest thing he had done in nearly 22 years of soldiering.
“It was a big ask for us to complete a steep mountain traverse with packs on, and then to top it off I had a map thrust into my hand and had to make four kilometres by last light while it was blowing a gale with everyone exhausted,” he said.

“We had spent nine hours on skis that day.”

For most it was a matter of lifting one ski-bound foot in front of the other while moving both arms in sequence to push forward with their stocks.

While trekking across the vast expanse of fresh snow in the back-country of Kosciusko National Park, some were reminded of scenes from movies such as Scott of the Antarctic or Stalingrad and wondered how those explorers and soldiers could have worked in those far worse conditions.

As part of the snow survival skills phase all participants were required to build and live in a snow cave.
Capt Jackson said although the UATLs checked the snow pack for strength, building and sleeping in a snow cave was a scary experience

“But as we found, while one cave was minus two degrees inside it was eight degrees warmer than the temperature outside.”

As one of two civilians participating in the exercise, Neil Thompson overcame claustrophobia to sleep in his cave overnight and gained an insight into how soldiers deal with pressures and fears they may face in battle.

During the final leg of the arduous trek to Thredbo, the participants rested at Seaman’s Hut and were given a sobering reminder of nature’s power in the Alpine region.

On the hut’s wall was a plaque commemorating four young snowboarders who perished in a snow cave nearby nearly four years ago.

Despite the physical and mental demands, all the participants overcame adversity and completed the exercise.
Capt Hazeldine said it was magical waking up one morning with snow all over his tent.

“Looking at a pristine white wonderland as far as the eye could see was a little moment to make it all worthwhile.”

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