Exeter team takes mountain challenge

All of the students and graduates are members of the Exeter’s Officer Training Corps (EUOTC) based at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter.

Mount Chopicalqui is famous for its unpredictable weather, and will require the team to put their skills and mental strength to the test. The group will be required to cross glaciers, negotiate crevasses and test their ice climbing abilities, all of which they are unable to train for here in the UK. They have, however, honed their mountain survival skills with weeks in North Wales and Northern Ireland. All members of the team have participated in Adventure Training with the Armed Forces while studying, and four of them are planning to sign up in the future.

Team Leader, Simon Long, who graduated this year in BA Human Geography with European Study says: “It was always the aim to organise a challenging high altitude expedition, and it is great to see it coming to fruition. It will push all members of the team to their limits, yet at the same time offering an opportunity to achieve something really special”. 

Teammate, Steve Taylor, who is graduating with a BA in Human Geography with Arabic, says: “Mount Chopicalqui is one the most challenging high peaks in the Andes both in terms of altitude and technicality which for us was the biggest attraction. It is a well respected, potentially dangerous but also awesome mountain that will test every aspect of our mountain skills and motivation.”

Lieutenant Colonel JR Cummings, Commanding Officer Exeter University Officers' Training Corps says: “This is the culmination of a year of training – a fantastic opportunity which will test all team members. It is exactly the type of challenge and spirit of adventure that members of the OTC demonstrate frequently. This year we have observed a number of unique feats and challenges culminating in 2 world records in March 2009 for marathon running. We wish them every success and good fortune.

The group includes widely travelled members, and fluent speakers of many languages, including Spanish, which will prove to be especially useful this summer. Naturally, there is the odd worry, such as whether the group will make it to the summit, whether the weather will hold out – or indeed, as Taylor says: “We should probably just hope that everyone remembers their passports - there's always one!”

The team are:
Simon Long - BA Human Geography with European Study (Graduate)
Steve Taylor - BA Human Geography with Arabic (Graduate)
Matthew Ivory - Beng (Graduate)
Kate Quinn - BA Politics (Graduate)
James Boggis - Masters in Engineering
Arthur Purbrick - BA Human Geography (Graduate)
Dom Caton - BSc Sports Science (Graduate)
Sarah Keane - BA History and Economics
Eddie Wilkes - BA Politics
Rory Findlay - BSc Geography