IN mid-July a small group of students and staff from Kelly College hit the heights in the Swiss Alps.

The team of pupils — Sandy Osborne, Oliver Dibben, Peter Meachin and George Harold — supported by staff members Mr Dominic Tomalin and Dr Jeremy Hill — all under the supervision of their mountain guide Alun Richardson, spent a week high level trekking and mountaineering around the small town of Arolla in the Valais region of Switzerland.

The Kelly team began the preparations for their trip with training in the Snowdonia National Park in March.

The training in North Wales tested their heads for heights and their general levels of fitness.

The team was also introduced to some of the equipment and techniques needed to move safely through the alpine environment.

Once in Switzerland, the group made use of the network of high altitude mountain huts — cabanes — in the area.

Early in the week the team completed its training in glacier safety and climbed the Pointe de Vouasson, 3489m or 11,443 feet, before continuing on a route that took them deeper into the mountains.

Bad weather, including 115 km/h winds and thunder storms, meant the group had to change its plans, but they still managed to achieve the summit of the Pigne d'Arolla on the final day.

At nearly 3800m, approximately 12,500 feet, the altitude on the upper reaches of this peak begins to have a significant effect on physical performance, making the summit a real accomplishment with so little time to acclimatise.