During the weekend of 24 to 26 July 2009, the Yorkshire Dales played host to Cadets and Staff from No 163 (Coventry-Phoenix) Squadron and would see the cadets, following weeks of training and preparation, tackle and conquer the three peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

The weekend kicked off to a rather soggy start with heavy rain making the journey to Yorkshire on the Friday a decidedly interesting one. However no amount of rain was going to deter the Cadets from arriving in high spirits and it wasn’t long before the campsite in Horton in Ribblesdale echoed to the sound of happy Cadets helping each other to pitch and stow their kit in their tents.

With base camp established, the peak of Pen-y-ghent beckoned and with all personnel back on the minibus, the next stiop would be the drop off point for the commencement of the ascent. Arriving at this point, the good humour continued as all personnel de-bused and carried out final checks.

Then with Squadron Leader Stuart Iles RAFVR(T), the Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing, Wing Adventure Training Technical Officer and Adult Warrant Officer John Collins, the Squadron’s Duke of Edinburgh/Adventure Training Officer leading the way followed by the Cadets and Civilian Instructors Jon Burt, Katie Legge and Sean Philips, the group headed in the direction of Pen-y-ghent.

Some four hours later, still smiling and looking very relaxed, the group returned to the campsite.

Having successfully completed the first Peak, the next order of the day was for the Cadets to put the skills that they had learnt in the food preparation and cooking lectures into effect and soon under Staff supervision varying dinners were bubbling away quite nicely and then eaten with the Cadets all sitting in a group re-counting what they had achieved earlier.

Saturday dawned to sunshine bathing the campsite, with a cool breeze and the sound of a very happy and highly motivated group of Cadets who wasted no time in preparing and eating their breakfast, followed by a readying session of the kit that they would need for the day.

With all personnel present and correct and bang on the scheduled time of 0830 hours, the minibus rolled out of the campsite. Ribble Head would be the destination and the deployment point for the commencement of the Whernside Peak Climb.

Drop off point reached and a final kit and route check later and the intrepid walkers departed for Whernside in exactly the same walking formation as they had started the walk towards Pen-y-ghent in the day before.

As the group disappeared from sight and after sufficient time had passed, the minibus (which was also being used as a safety vehicle) was re-located to the check point at Chapel-le-dale, which was not only the finishing point for the Whernside Peak, but was also the starting point for the Ingleborough Peak.

Unlike Pen-y-ghent, Whernside would prove to be a more difficult Peak to climb and this was evident as by the time the group reached the check point, although the trend of smiles and good humour was still in place, signs of tiredness were creeping in. However, after a rest, a top-up of water bottles, the group were ready for the ascent of the final Peak – Ingleborough.

Spirits boosted by the rest stop and the happy hikers were off on the final leg of the adventure and after sufficient time had passed, Ingleton would be the destination for the minibus as this is where the final finishing point would be.

For score and some hours later at the finishing point, the group came into sight smiling broadly as the realisation of what they had achieved over the two days began to set in.

Although the group were a little on the tired side, the journey back to the campsite was done admist laughter and jokes and a sense of fulfilment at what had been achieved since their arrival in Yorkshire the previous day.

Once back at base camp and with a hot meal inside them, the Cadets were given a chance to have a well earned chill out and rest following their fantastic achievement of conquering the three Peaks.

The return journey to Coventry on the Sunday saw the return of Friday’s heavy rain, but the Cadets were not going to let this spoil what had been a truly successful and enjoyable weekend and as the “Welcome To Coventry” sign was passed, a huge cheer filled the minibus.

Flight Lieutenant L Vile RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding 163 Squadron said; “What the Cadets have achieved during this weekend, is a true testament to what can be accomplished through hard work, motivation and above all teamwork. For many of the Cadets this whole experience would have been a first and in true 163 Squadron style, they met this challenge head on and did what they had set out to do.”