Day 1 was supposed to be 3-4k shorter but the Lotschenpassehutte was full so we had to hike on to the Gasthaus Kummenalp which ruled out a dawn attempt on the Hockenhorn for another three years. For the older Ventures the total distance hiked was 16km, younger Ventures and the Scouts knocked between 2 and 5km off that by getting a lift up the Gasteretal valley to Selden. Total ascent for everyone was 1686m to a high point of 2689m

There is a wealth of detail in the above picture that describes 3GP camping in the early 90s. From the kitchen shelters still used 30 years later. Fires were just a bunch of rocks around a shallow trench, water was stored in the rectangle containers and the old wooden trailer, the sides of which would be turned into our only tables on arrival at camp. Logs are used for seating, collapsible fishing chairs appear to have been relegated to water barrel stands. Ross seems to be nonchalantly listening to his Walkman while Chris grips hold of his bag of chocolate. A couple of Kandersteg's luggage trolleys are parked on site probably having been used for wood fag.

The Scouts all get a lift up to Selden and then start walking, the male Ventures walk with the scouts and our overnight packs up the first steep bit (through the gorge) Alan then picks up scouts and our packs. The four male ventures, David, James and Andrew then have a jovial walk toward Seldon. We all stop to throw stones at some stupid idiot who insisted on standing in a river. (David)

Above: Craig's boot gets used to being in a river as the boys kill time on the way to Selden.  Dave thought (or didn't think) that it would be amusing to lob a rock at them.

Alan picked up two guides (Mountain Guides Not Girl Guides Jem!) from Kandersteg and then takes us to Selden. Here Mark re straps his rucksack with the wrong straps. He didn't realise this until he got to Interlaken at the end of the Queens Scout expedition, six days of hard hiking with uncomfortable shoulder straps.

Get outside and start to shift. Cross river Kander on a really dodgy bridge. This scared J.J. so much that he had to stop for the loo. We catch up with the others in one hour. It took some of them well over two hours and we do it in one. At Berghaus Gfällalp Hut (1850m alt) We meet Liz Row and Ian Returning With Philip. The mountain beat them. Liz loses her purse on the bus. (Nice one!)

LUNCH ABOVE THE BERGUS GFELALP

30 years later, the above picture has taken on new significance. It shows Lucy and Gail making sandwiches for the Scouts, Leaders and other Ventures. This lunch was made and eaten a good half an hour's walk beyond the Bergus Gfelalp hut which was the overnight destination for the District Explorers on thair 2022 overnight hike. According to one of the Explorer Leaders, 3rd Gidea Park are a bit hardcore.

It’s a real slow slog up to the glacier but we make it in the end. Five minutes and we are across it! We carried our ice axes just for that. The path is more like a bit of rock climbing. In the end we get to the hut.

This may have been a spectacularly long overnight expedition but it was a 3rd Gidea Park, spectacularly long overnight expedition which means dinner will be cooked on fires at the end of it. The picture below was fairly typical of an early 1990's 3GP Summer Camp. To modern eyes has a bit of a "I'm a celebrity" vibe to the fire area.