RIDING A CAM-AM TO THE END OF THE EARTH, MOUNT KENT THE FIRST ASCENT
Posted by Tony Down at 11/18/2007 9:15 AM and is filed under Building Vintage Motorcycles,Vintage Bikes,The Falklands on a CAN AM 
RIDING A CAN-AM TO THE END OF THE EARTH, MOUNT KENT THE FIRST ASCENT
The New Ops Block with PE at the Ready
One of the biggest problems at Stanley was that, unlike normal flying, we had NO Diversions
and with the totally unpredictable Antarctica weather this made launching and recovering the
Phantoms problematic. With the runway shorter than normal we had 5 cables across it and every
landing was into the cable just like an aircraft carrier. Having landed into the cable it then had to
be reset for the next aircraft to make an approach.
I end up planning an Air Defense Exercise which will utilize most of our resources and train our
Fighter Controllers, but with the aforementioned problems a “flow plan” for landing times had to
organized with suitable “plan B’s” and sufficient tankers airborne to refuel the fighters in case
things went pear shaped.
Mount Kent on a Good Day
Fighter Controllers, but with the aforementioned problems a “flow plan” for landing times had to
organized with suitable “plan B’s” and sufficient tankers airborne to refuel the fighters in case
things went pear shaped.
Mount Kent on a Good Day
Hours of planning and I get the go ahead. The Fighter Controllers are up on the top of Mount
Kent, the highest point in the Falklands, with their huge far seeing radars and a complete Camp
has been established up there in less than ideal conditions as wind speeds of over 110 mph
were not uncommon. We also had another Radar Station at San Carlos where we came ashore
to retake the Islands during the first part of the Campaign.
Kent, the highest point in the Falklands, with their huge far seeing radars and a complete Camp
has been established up there in less than ideal conditions as wind speeds of over 110 mph
were not uncommon. We also had another Radar Station at San Carlos where we came ashore
to retake the Islands during the first part of the Campaign.
Needless to say the Controllers need to be briefed on the upcoming Exercise and so I’m given
the task of briefing them (Well it was my exercise wasn’t it?) Mount Kent is inaccessible to
anything other a helicopter (on a good day) and the Artic Snow Cat which was an all terrain
tracked vehicle that had a driver and seating for 5. So I ring up the Boss of Mount Kent and tell
him I’m coming up to brief them and obviously will need some accommodation. He asks what
time and how I’m arriving as its too windy for a chopper to land. I tell him I’m going to ride PE 1
up there.
“You are doing WHAT?.... are you f****** MAD!” “ NO WAY!”
the task of briefing them (Well it was my exercise wasn’t it?) Mount Kent is inaccessible to
anything other a helicopter (on a good day) and the Artic Snow Cat which was an all terrain
tracked vehicle that had a driver and seating for 5. So I ring up the Boss of Mount Kent and tell
him I’m coming up to brief them and obviously will need some accommodation. He asks what
time and how I’m arriving as its too windy for a chopper to land. I tell him I’m going to ride PE 1
up there.
“You are doing WHAT?.... are you f****** MAD!” “ NO WAY!”
So the following morning with a few items in the rucksack, some tools and a new tube I set off
into the unknown with a map and a VHF hand held radio. Down through the town and out
through some farmers fields and along a fairly decent track by Falklands standards. A bit like the
Mamore road in Scotland. Well the plan is to follow the Snow Cat tracks up the mountain and
they should be easy enough to follow as it’s a tracked vehicle chopping its way through peat bog
and rock runs of granite. I come across the turn off my cart track and I can see the black smears
of the tracks leading up the hill.
Just Follow the Tracks
Another Rock Run and the Track Below
I need to be a little cautious as the entire Island is covered in land mines so better stay as close
as I can to these tracks without trying to ride in them as the Snow Cat has ripped the peat to
shreds and when you do that water flows in underneath and you have a big surprise if you cut
through the last strands of grass and disappear up to the bars.
into the unknown with a map and a VHF hand held radio. Down through the town and out
through some farmers fields and along a fairly decent track by Falklands standards. A bit like the
Mamore road in Scotland. Well the plan is to follow the Snow Cat tracks up the mountain and
they should be easy enough to follow as it’s a tracked vehicle chopping its way through peat bog
and rock runs of granite. I come across the turn off my cart track and I can see the black smears
of the tracks leading up the hill.
Just Follow the Tracks
Another Rock Run and the Track Below
I need to be a little cautious as the entire Island is covered in land mines so better stay as close
as I can to these tracks without trying to ride in them as the Snow Cat has ripped the peat to
shreds and when you do that water flows in underneath and you have a big surprise if you cut
through the last strands of grass and disappear up to the bars.
Onward and upward through miles of peat, a few rivers to cross and giant rock runs to navigate
through. Years of riding the Scottish pays off and finally I come round the last corner about 300
feet below the summit only to be presented with an enormous jumble of rocks all the way to the
top. I feel like Sir Edmund Hillary on the final ascent! Well nothing for it I need to walk this one,
so in good old trials style I walk the last section and try and find a line. It can be done, albeit with
a “3” but I’m here.
THE FIRST MOTORCYCLE ASCENT OF MOUNT KENT!!
through. Years of riding the Scottish pays off and finally I come round the last corner about 300
feet below the summit only to be presented with an enormous jumble of rocks all the way to the
top. I feel like Sir Edmund Hillary on the final ascent! Well nothing for it I need to walk this one,
so in good old trials style I walk the last section and try and find a line. It can be done, albeit with
a “3” but I’m here.
THE FIRST MOTORCYCLE ASCENT OF MOUNT KENT!!
Subsequently I rode up to Mt Kent about 8 times and only ever had to walk the Final Rock Run
once in a howling blizzard. The run back was always a lot easier apart from the day after the
blizzard when it suddenly went to a Warm Front, melted all the snow and drizzled all day. I left
in thick cloud, scrabbled my way down the rock run, tracking the faithful Dunlop tire tracks until I
came out of the cloud and could find PE1. However it didn’t end there as all the snow was now
run off and the little river I had crossed the day before when it was 4 inches deep was now
raging white water!
once in a howling blizzard. The run back was always a lot easier apart from the day after the
blizzard when it suddenly went to a Warm Front, melted all the snow and drizzled all day. I left
in thick cloud, scrabbled my way down the rock run, tracking the faithful Dunlop tire tracks until I
came out of the cloud and could find PE1. However it didn’t end there as all the snow was now
run off and the little river I had crossed the day before when it was 4 inches deep was now
raging white water!
Nothing for it, there is no other way so kill the motor and standing upstream of the bike by the
engine gently push PE in deeper and deeper until the water is now breaking round my bum and
filling up boots and everything else. Finally at the far bank we now have another problem the
bank is shoulder height and I’m knackered and running out of ideas.
As things weigh less under water I lift the front end up until I can lodge the handlebar over the
lip of the bank and then stumble and splosh my way to the back wheel. Some frantic lifting and
having got the thing in gear I manage to get my hands and shoulder under the back tire and
literally end up chucking the entire bike onto the bank using the handlebar as a pivot.
MAN v WILD Bear Grylls, you better believe it?
Now I have to get out and strip off in the middle of nowhere, boots empty, socks and shirt
squeezed out time to get going before hypothermia sets in. Amazingly PE bursts into life
(Truly amazing bike!) and home I go.
squeezed out time to get going before hypothermia sets in. Amazingly PE bursts into life
(Truly amazing bike!) and home I go.
The second time I made the summit the Fighter Controllers had made me my own personal
parking slot “ Motorcycles Only” with a red line through a picture of the Snow Cat, I wonder
where that is now?
parking slot “ Motorcycles Only” with a red line through a picture of the Snow Cat, I wonder
where that is now?
Taken From the Annals of Stupidity
Squadron Leader Tony Down RAF without Sherpa Tenzing Norgay
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