The DofE Silver Trial Expedition for Juniors

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Silver Trial Expedition for Kolej Yayasan UEM juniors was completed successfully at the weekend, but not without some difficulties, mixed fortune, and minor injuries. 25 Silver DofE participants took part. They departed from the college guard house, group by group, with 4 staff accompanying and one support van, from 2:30 p.m. on Friday (after morning classes and prayers) and very soon were soaked by a heavy deluge of rain. The heavy rain continued and off for the next four hours as the Silvers struggled along the routes through the back lanes of Lembah Beringin to the Jalan Chamar 2 checkpoint and rest stop, then via back tracks, narrow footpaths, and plantation trails to Ladang Kerling.

As they trekked, their Award Leader, Mr Boler, directed and instructed each group in turn in navigation skills. A new route, via the water tank behind Jalan Chamar area, along narrow paths and down a small hill, into which Mr Boler had cut steps the week before, proved adventurous and was successfully negotiated. In the plantation, the challenge of crossing the river ravine to the path on the other side - safely - was achieved by each Silver group by moving downstream to a safe crossing and then moving back upstream to find the track again. But, due to the difficult conditions, the trekking was slow and the soaked Silver students arrived at the campsite just before dusk to pitch the tents in fading light, which they completed only to find that the much needed facilities (toilets and showers) were provided further up the track at the plantation offices and buildings. On the bright side, the rain ceased once they reached the campsite and the night was dry and lit by the full moon. One student, however, was complaining of blisters already, but was treated by one of the matrons who was attending in the van for the expedition. Blisters were a common problem for many of them since the heavy rain meant their shoes and socks were constantly wet.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and at the camp the Silver groups and one leader cooked hearty breakfasts, struck camp and trekked in separate groups, now accompanied by 3 leaders and one support van, along the long, winding road to Kerling, then through Kampung Air Panas to Kerling Hot Spring (kolam air panas). Here they stopped for a long rest and ice creams, and the Silver students played in the river, Sungai Kerling. Once they all gathered again, they departed up the lane towards a track to the north, through the villages leading to Kalumpang, in separate groups. Two groups went ahead and stopped for lunch at MAI farm lake whilst the others lunched first at Kerling Hot Spring before trekking on again in separate parties.  All groups then met up again successfully at the next checkpoint at the Five petrol station, at the southern edge of Kalumpang. Unfortunately, the heavy showers had returned during this time and all Silver groups were once again soaked! All five Silver groups, separated by short distances (so keeping in sight of each other) then trekked up the main road, Route 1, to Kalumpang, through Kampung Pasir Puteh and a durian plantation, led and trained further in navigation in turn by Mr Boler again, to our second campsite at Pasir Puteh Resort, arriving around 5:15pm. The Silvers then pitched their tents, in heavy showers, and jumped into the river, Sungai Inki, for some fun time! 

 After dark, in light rain, the Silvers cooked their dinners, but then very heavy rain arrived and continued for several hours, soaking them all and flooding the campsite, tents and gear! The Silvers gallantly saw it through and slept as best as they could in the wet. The student with blisters was helped by spells in the van and sections of trekking throughout the day. Another Silver student was suffering pains in his foot so he was given treatment and spells in the van too. A third Silver student had the sole of her right boot fall off. Mr Boler provided glue and bands to fix it back on and she was able to continue.

After a very wet night, Sunday dawned bright and sunny again, fortunately. So, after a much-needed cooked breakfast, the Silvers were transferred by lorry to the main Kalumpang Resort and taken to the Obstacle Course. A morning of challenge and adventure followed, by walking on poles, climbing up, and down, slippery, muddy slopes using ropes, walking along a narrow plank, crawling under barbed wire, climbing over walls and frames, swinging across the monkey bars and finally whizzing down the flying fox into the river! Great fun for all the Silvers students. Once the lorry had transferred us all back to Pasir Puteh it was time to change, cook lunch and then pack and strike camp. Alas, that's when the heavy deluges resumed, and the Silvers set off on the last leg thoroughly soaked again! Undeterred, they trekked down the main road back to the Five petrol station, then into the lanes winding southwest through the oil palm plantation. Mr Boler again led each of the groups in turn to practise our navigation skills along this tricky route, with all other groups trekking behind and in sight of each other and accompanied by two leaders. Part way through, the Silvers successfully crossed a deep, muddy ditch using good teamwork, and navigated the tricky lanes and junctions back to Ladang Kerling, past the 1st night's campsite and to the end of the expedition and the college bus. 

For the last trek, having joined the obstacle course okay, three students were taken in the van (but since this was a trial expedition, they can continue in the qualifying expedition). On leaving Pasir Puteh Resort also, another Silver student twisted and sprained her ankle and was also unable to continue. Consequently, two students were then taken by van directly to the sick bay in college for treatment by one of the matrons. Meanwhile, the remaining 21 Silvers, joined again at the end by two students from the van, successfully completed the expedition and arrived at college very wet but very happy after a really great adventure!

They would like to thank our Award Leader for organising, directing and training us on this expedition plus the great help given by the other leaders who volunteered their help throughout the weekend. Without all of their fantastic and flexible support the expedition could not have proceeded. Thank you all!