Bill Bowkett gives his account of his Gold DofE expedition in Snowdonia, Wales.
Thursday 25th August
Throughout the week, I gathered all the necessary equipment for the Gold expedition. The preparations were much more thorough than for Bronze, Silver or even the Gold practice expedition. I had a massive haversack, 18kg, to put on my shoulders, filled with food, clothes and all the other items needed for the 80km trek. I took to my bed for the final time before setting off to the Welsh valleys, and the unforgettable adventure ahead.
Friday 26th August
Seven in the morning and I enjoyed a substantial breakfast of toast, cereal and orange juice. I took a thorough shower – my last for four days. I was nervous but the weather outside was stunning - blue skies, bright sunshine with little puffs of clouds. I started filming on my phone which dulled my feelings of anxiety. The camaraderie among the expedition was great. After a fast-food stop, we arrived at the campsite. It was a great night, as my group and other friends played ball games and cards together, but sleep was key and I shut my eyes visualising mountains in my dreams.
Saturday 27th August
Surprisingly, I had a decent night’s sleep, despite the hard ground, cramped tent and flimsy Karimat. A member of our group moved out, so the weight of my back pack was reduced. The morning had a heavy fog to it, which felt eerie when we were driving to our starting position. The group leaders waved us off and we began our final DofE expedition.
The day didn’t start well - Thomas Baxter, in my group, sprained his ankle four kilometres in but he pressed on with courage. During little breaks we had time to admire the beautiful countryside, with cascading valleys surrounding us. The end of the trail was rather confusing, with no direct path.
Eventually we found our destination - camping on a marshy bit of land next to a forest. This was a new experience for all of us, as we had to find and purify our own water. Suddenly, storm clouds swept in and, as we scampered into our tents, rain teamed down. With the drumming sound of raindrops on the tent, we tried to kip in for the night.
Sunday 28th August
We knew this day was going to be hard from the start as it was the longest walk - 24km. Our route went through a forest, but we soon got lost. For over five hours we climbed higher and higher and then stumbled back down, getting lost again. We lacked clean water, food and energy. There was a point where we might have just given up and camped in a forest. However, we staggered on and found our campsite at 7pm, when the sun was dipping down behind the valleys. Despite the weather, the campsite was beautiful, right beside a stream. It had been a tough day and there was a sense of relief and joy. Even the cold did not seem to matter, as we sat by each other quietly enjoying our evening meal. Our focus was on the next day and getting back on right track to the finish.
Monday 29th August
This day was radical improvement on Sunday. The weather was great for walking with clear skies, sunshine and a slight breeze on the face. The conditions helped us conquer a whole succession of impressive hills. The highlight of the day was meeting up with another group of lads.
We arrived at the campsite and our assessor showed us a nice spot to set up. It even gave us an opportunity to pose for a photo in the stream. It may have been cold, but the atmosphere at the campsite that night was warm. Like the nights before we ate boil-in-the bag dinners, but the next day was to be far different - our last day on DofE.
Tuesday 30th August
We woke up very early this morning - 4.30am! For the first time, we packed up in pitch darkness. Six o’clock was our set off time and no one was looking forward to the climb. A mountain lay in our way, which meant climbing 600m. With tired legs, blistered feet and a lack of food, we dug deep. We did not stop; we just wanted to get to the end of this journey. Around the corner of a gate, was the sight of a mini bus and the youth hostel; we did it! My feelings were indescribable – a mix of pain, relief and joy. That evening, we enjoyed a well-deserved dinner with everyone from Gold D0fE, sitting down at a table for the first time in four days.
Wednesday 31st August
After a big breakfast, we threw our bags into the back of the coach and set off. The 200-mile trip home was silent as many caught up on some sleep. As I clambered off the coach, the sight of family and friends made it all worthwhile.
DofE has been one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in school. The scheme helps to make you a more rounded person. You learn to keep healthy with sport, gain new skills and get to help out in the local community. I’ve met so many new people on the Gold residential and your mental and physical fitness is tested to the maximum. Mr Glover, Sarah and the rest of the team have been amazing and I’ve gained so much from the scheme. Despite the pain, I’ll really miss being part of DofE.