They started off in July 2001 as a rag-tag
bunch of students , strangers to each other and excited with
dreams of out-of-the-world once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Today, the 13 participants in the MIR programme are fitter
than they had ever been before in their previous experience
as rock climbers or sport enthusiasts.
It has not been easy.
TOUGH TRAINING
To build up a good fitness level, the base of any physical
activity, the students run twice a week and work out in the
gym once a week. Every Sunday, they are at Bukit Timah humping
- carrying increasing loads of up to 15kg and going around
circuits several times, up and down slopes and steps or on
flat terrain.
Each grueling circuit takes about 25min,
and the sweat-soaked bodies at the end of the sessions bear
testimony to the strain.
Their performance is being assessed to
ensure they are up to scratch. The tests include a 10km run
at MacRitchie under 1hr, a three-round humping at Bukit Timah
under 23min each, and rock-climbing assessment.
Training includes a series of lectures
by the Xixabangma main team to impart "soft" skills
on various aspects of mountaineering.
SACRIFICES MADE
Because of the intensity of the programme, many students have
sacrificed much in terms of time and other activities. Some
have dropped out of other commitments, and more sacrifices
will be made as training intensifies. Indeed, it has been
tough just to manage studies and the MIR programme, while
trying to find time for family, friends and loved ones. It
is sheer commitment and their love for what they are doing
that is keeping the students going.
SKILLS TRAINING
In September 2001, the students are put through rock-climbing
and mountaineering skills training conducted by Lim Kim Boon,
an experienced mountaineer and a rock-climbing assessor.
The weekly schedule looks like this: Tuesday - rock-climbing
training; Wednesday -lectures by Xixabangma
team; Thursday - rock-climbing
training; Friday - MIR meeting; Saturday - rock-climbing
training (whole day); Sunday - rock-climbing training
(whole day); Monday - even God rested
on the seventh day! What more mere students.
Under Kim Boon's expert tutelage, the training
has progressed smoothly, and sessions are exciting and fun.
The stint ends with a 2-day-1-night training at Outward Bound
School learning ice-craft as well as rescue systems.
At the end of it all, every one of the
student will have learnt a great deal about adventure sport.
Based on their performance throughout these past months, a
final selection will be made of those who qualify for the
Technical Climbing Course in New Zealand.
