Itll be an epic (From Penarth Times)

Itll be an epic

A PENARTH man, who was nearly killed by an avalanche in Turkey, is leading an eight-man expedition to Scandin-avia to recreate the epic journey of a Norwegian wartime resistance hero.

Alun Davies, a former equerry to Prince Charles, will lead his expedition in the footsteps of the Norwegian commando, Jan Baalsrud.

Mr Davies, a member of the Alpine Ski Club, was pulled to safety from an avalanche in Turkey two years ago, in which his friend was killed.

He was on an expedition to Mount Ararat when disaster struck.

Alun said: "That was the second time I'd been avalanched, and I'm going to take enormous care to make sure it doesn't happen for a third time.

"I've got two qualified mountain guides and I think I'll have one holding each hand."

Mr Davies was buried in the snow for 20 minutes, and was just about giving up all hope when he heard the voices of rescuers who had located him through his transceiver.

His joy at being rescued was overshadowed by the death of the man he was climbing with - Alisdair Ross.

Baalsrud was also caught in an avalanche - and seriously hurt - during his 150-mile walk to freedom.

Jan Baalsrud was one of a troop of commandos who embarked on a dangerous mission to destroy a German air control tower and recruit for the resistance movement.

They were forced to abandon their mission after being betrayed to the Nazis.

Jan was the sole survivor and his escape to freedom led him across northern Norway, Finland and Sweden.

He lived in a snow-hole for almost a fortnight, and was forced to cut off his toes after contracting frostbite.

Mr Davies' team, which includes John Elis Roberts, a former head warden of Snowdonia National Park, will follow faithfully in Baalsrud's steps, setting sail from the Shetlands next Saturday, on the exact date the Norwegian left there in 1943.